Lot 1080 Dα

The present work has been confirmed by Dr. Brigit Schumacher, who has examined the work in person, to be a previously unknown piece by the Haarlem painter Philips Wouwerman. The work's stylistic characteristics, such as the delicate manner of painting, subtle colours, level of detail and compositional wit are all clearly recognisable as the work of Wouwerman - one of the most versatile and productive artists of the Dutch Golden Age.
It has often been mentioned that in his early career Wouverman orientated himself closely to the so-called “Bamboccianti”, especially Pieter van Laer. The present work is a fine example of this, despite the fact that the scene obviously takes place in the artist's Dutch homeland, and not in Southern Italy.
Dr. Schumacher has agreed to include this painting as an authentic work from the artist's own hand in a possible revised version or addition to the catalogue raisonné. The monogram to the lower left could perhaps have been touched up, amended or overpainted.