ANTHONIE BLOCKLANDT VAN MONTFOORT (MANFORT 1533-1583 UTRECHT)

Son of the burgomaster Montfoort, Anthonie Blocklandt van Montfoort began his career in the studio of his uncle Hendrick Sweersz., the celebrated portrait painter. Between 1550 and 1552 he is noted among Frans Floris' pupils in Antwerp. Floris left a lasting influence on the artist, who after his return to Delft in 1552, and further travels through the Netherlands and Italy, continued to rely on the master's examples. This painting takes inspiration from Floris' composition of the same subject (sold at Christie's, New York, 27 January 2010, lot 333).

We are grateful to Jan de Maere for proposing the attribution and dating this painting to circa 1560 (private communication, 19 August 2022).