Thomas Wijck Beverwijk circa 1616 - 1677 Haarlem

Thomas Wijck was born in Beverwijk around 1616. He probably studied in Haarlem, before completing his training in Italy, spending the majority of his time in Rome and Naples. This work may be compared to Wijck's Washerwoman in a Grotto in the Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum, Hanover which Briganti dates to Wijck's Italian Period (see G. Briganti et al, The Bamboccianti, Rome 1983, p. 233, reproduced fig. 7.12). A similar dating for the present work also seems plausible. Wijck returned to Haarlem by 1642 when he enrolled in the Guild of Saint Luke and continued his activity in his home town until his death, a part from a short period of activity in England between 1660-68.