Jan Lievens Leiden 1607 - 1674 Amsterdam

Professor Werner Sumowski believes this to be an autograph work by Jan Lievens, painted in all probability as a study for the larger version (164 by 231 cm.) in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Aix-en-Provence, which he now considers to be largely by the artist's workshop (see W. Sumowski, Gemälde der Rembrandt-Schüler, vol. III, p. 1784, no. 1203, reproduced p. 1842). Numerous small changes exist between the two paintings, the most significant of which is the inclusion in the Aix-en-Provence version of only two figures in the left background.

This lot is accompanied by a letter to the present owner, dated 19 May 2005, in which he endorses the attribution to Jan Lievens, an opinion given on the basis of a colour transparency.