Jacob Adriaensz. Backer (Harlingen 1608-1651 Amsterdam)

According to Sumowski (op. cit.), this is a late work dating from around 1650, probaby executed as a preparatory study for a painting, although no related picture is known. He compared it stylistically to two portrait studies by Backer from the same period: The Regents of the Nieuwezijds-Huiszittenhuis in Amsterdam and Sketch for a group portrait (Sumowski, op. cit., respectively nos. 8 and 71x).

We are grateful to Peter van den Brink, who has confirmed the attribution to Backer.