DUTCH SCHOOL, LATE 1630S | Winter landscape with skaters on a frozen river

Probably, Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle (1670–1718) and thence by inheritance to the present owners. 

The canvas has a firm relining, that has somewhat flattened the paint surface. The varnish appears to be dirty and somewhat uneven. There is a vertical line measuring 5 cm. in the centre of the sky along which the paint surface has cracked, with some very tiny losses - most likely as a result of the canvas having been pressed against the crossbar of the stretcher behind it. Otherwise there are no major damages visible to the naked eye, only some slight frame abrasion along the left margin, and some scratches on the building at the left (visible in the catalogue illustration). Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a thick varnish which fluoresces somewhat opaquely. Fairly minor, scattered retouchings are visible underneath this varnish. The most significant concentration are in the trunk of the tree on the left, in the sloping roof of the building on the left, and the wall of the lower barn on the right. Many of the figures appear to be relatively untouched. In good overall condition. Offered in a carved and gesso gilt wood frame with only very minor chips and losses.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This charming winter landscape was almost certainly brought to England by Arnold Joost van Keppel, a member of an ancient and noble family from Gelderland, and a close associate of William of Orange, later King William III. Van Keppel travelled with the Prince from the Netherlands to England in 1688, the year before the Prince was crowned King. In 1696–97, the King granted Van Keppel the title of 1st Earl of Albemarle. His son, Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, was a distinguished soldier who married Lady Anne Lennox, daughter of the 1st Duke of Richmond, with whom he had three boys who all followed in the family tradition of loyal military service to the British crown, including Augustus, one of Britain's greatest ever naval commanders and himself a great patron of the arts. The painting has descended in the collection of the Earls of Albemarle and is now being offered on the art market for the first time in over three centuries. We are grateful to Dr. Fred G. Meijer, who has inspected the painting first-hand, for suggesting a date of execution in the late 1630s.