Abraham Govaerts (Antwerp 1589-1626) and Hendrik van Balen I (Antwerp 1574-1632)

The landscape element of this high quality collaborative work was traditionally ascribed to Jan Breughel the Younger, and was published as such by Klaus Ertz in 1984 (loc. cit.). However, more recently, both Bettina Werche and Ursula Härting have attributed it to Abraham Govaerts, whose later style has close affinities with Jan Breughel the Elder. The success of this composition is attested to by two known derivations - a panel, said to be signed by Govaerts and dated 1624, last recorded in a sale at Sotheby's, London, 23 June 1937, lot 77 (see Härting, op. cit., pp. 84-5, no. 20, illustrated); and a copy in the Nationalgalerie, Prague (inv. X.429).