Attributed to Joos van Craesbeeck Neerlinter circa 1605 - 1654/61 Brussels

There are several scratches on the hat of the figure and a small area of flaking and paint loss at upper right corner. Under UV light: opaque varnish; inpainting cannot be seen under the varnish.
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In her monograph on Joos van Craesbeeck, Karolien de Clippel lists eight versions of this composition, seven of which she considers copies.  The prime version, which is slightly smaller than the present work, was formerly in the collection of the New York Historical Society and was last on the market in 1987¹  . Two other versions of the composition have recently been offered at auction as "attributed to Joos van Craesbeeck".  One, of almost the exact same dimensions as the present work, was offered London, Christie's, December 8, 2006, lot 150, and another, much larger panel, was sold South Kensington, Christie's, July 11, 2003, lot 74. 

The present work may be the third listed by De Clippel.  That one was sold, Paris, Jules Lenglart, March 3, 1902, lot 26, and a label affixed to the verso of our painting appears to read 26.  (See, K. de Clippel Joos van Craesbeeck, Turnhourt 2006, I, p. 288, under cat. no. C3.4.)

1 See, New York, Christie's, June 3, 1987, lot 18, not, New York, Christie's, October 16, 1987, lot 210, of a different subject.