Philips Wouwerman

Count Heinrich von Brühl (1700–1763), Dresden, after 1739;

As part of whose collection, sold en bloc in 1768, acquired by

Catherine the Great of Russia (1729–1796), in whose collection it hung in the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg, until 1796;

Thence by descent to her son Tsar Pavel I (Petrovich) (1754–1801), The State Imperial Museum, St Petersburg [during Pavel's reign the Winter Palace ceased to be the private property of the Tsar, and acquired the status of an Imperial museum];

Transferred to one of his estates, probably Gatgina Palace, situated 50 miles south-west of St Petersburg;

Thence by descent to his son Tsar Alexander I Pavlovich (1777–1825);

Thence by inheritance to his brother Tsar Nikolai I Pavlovich (1796–1855);

During whose reign it was most probably returned to the State Imperial Museum, St Petersburg, where it remained until 28 June 1929, when handed over to the Antikvariat All-Union Association;

By whom sold ('Aus einem Ausländischen Museum'), Berlin, Rudolph Lepke, 1 April 1930, lot 35;

Private collection, New York;

With Johnny van Haeften, London;

From whom acquired, in 1994, by the father of the present owner.