Attributed to Karel Skréta

The son of the artist;
Acquired from the above by Prince Karl Eusebius of Liechtenstein (1611-1684) in 1681.

V. Fanti, Descrizzione completa di tutto ciò che ritrovasi nella galleria di pittura e scultura di Sua Altezza Giuseppe Wenceslao del S.R.I. Principe Regnante della casa di Lichtenstein, Vienna 1767, p. 90, no. 436, (as Nicolas Poussin);
J. D. von Dalling, Description des Tableaux, et des Pièces de Sculpture, que renferme la Gallerie de son Altesse François Joseph Chef et Prince Regnant de la Maison de Liechtenstein, Vienna 1780, p. 86, no. 245 (as Nicolas Poussin);
Sammlungskatalog, manuscript, 1805, no. 96, (as Nicolas Poussin);
J. Falke, Katalog der Fürstlich Liechtensteinischen Bilder-Galerie im Gartenpalais der Rossau zu Wien, Vien 1873, p. 48, no. 398, (as Nicolas Poussin);
J. Falke, Katalog der fürstlich Liechtensteinischen Bilder-Galerie im Gartenpalais der Rossau zu Wien, Vienna 1885, p. 37 no. 261 (as Nicolas Poussin);
W. Bode, Die Fürstlich Liechtenstein'sche Galerie in Wien, Vienna 1896, p.114 (as not by Poussin);
O. Grautoff, Nicolas Poussin. Sein Werk und sein Leben, Munich 1914, vol I., p. 103, vol. II, no. 30, reproduced (as Nicolas Poussin);
J. Thuillier, L'opera completa di Poussin, Milan 1974, p. 116, cat. no. B34, reproduced (under Attributed Works);
J. Thuillier, Nicolas Poussin, Paris 1994, p. 266, cat. no. B11, reproduced (under Attributed Works).

The canvas has an old relining. The paint surface is secure under a very old, dirty, yellowed varnish. An area of old repaint is visible to the naked eye along the bottom margin and this is confirmed under UV light which is severely impeded by the aforementioned varnish but does reveal some older scattered retouchings. Offered in a gilt wood and plaster frame in good condition.
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Traditionally this work has been given to Poussin, but the Liechtenstein archives record the work as by the Bohemian painter Karel Skréta and indicate that it was acquired directly from his son. An attribution to Poussin's Flemish follower Karel Philips Spierincks (1608-1639) has also been suggested.