Attributed to Abraham Bloemaert (Gorinchem 1564-1651 Utrecht)

Marcel Roethlisberger mentions five versions of the same design as the present lot, varying in size and support (op.cit., 1996, pp. 257-67; op.cit. 1993, pp. 507-8). According to him there are two prime versions, one in a private collection in New York (on panel, 95 x 133 cm.), and the present lot. The three remaining works are considered to be old copies. This is a revision of his opinion as expressed in 1993 where he attributed the composition to Abraham's son Hendrick or the young Cornelis Bloemaert, based on poor photographs. After having seen three versions in person, Roethlisberger now concludes that Abraham Bloemaert invented the composition early in his career, in the 1590s.
Roethlisberger is reluctant to call one of the two paintings the primary version.