Joseph van Bredael Antwerp 1688 - 1739 Paris

Although van Bredael's inspiration in terms of both composition and handling was Jan Brueghel the Elder, he interpreted the themes of the older master in his own, very personal manner.  The present drawing is closely related to a painting by Bredael of the same view but with somewhat different staffage, in a Brussels private collection.  Comparison of both the drawing and the painting with a signed and dated landscape of 1723, in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (Inv. A59), suggests that these too must be late works.  The figure of the rider to the left of centre in the present drawing recurs in two of the artist's paintings, one in the Museum of the Castle of Blois, the other sold, London, Phillips, 6 July 1999, lot 35.