Flemish School, 17th Century

This elaborate, large-scale scene of dramatic goings-on by the estuary of the River Scheldt, with a distant view of Antwerp behind, is very much in the post-Breughel Flemish tradition.  Stylistically, although the handling is in some ways reminiscent of artists such as Sebastian Vrancx, it has not yet been possible to establish a definite attribution.  It is, though, a substantial and accomplished drawing, and compositionally rather original, with the tall quayside building to the left and a multitude of highly animated figures.