Guillaume de Fal, 17th century

Louis Henry was the son of the Count George of Nassau-Beilstein and later Nassau-Dillenburg. His mother was Anna Amalie Countess of Nassau-Saarbrücken. He was first educated at the court in Dillenburg and later at Herborn Academy and then made a Grand Tour to France and the Netherlands. He received his military training under Prince Maurice of Orange-Nassau. He was a senior officer during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648) - before 1635, serving on the Protestant side, after which he served in the imperial army. Louis Henry and his brother Albert inherited Nassau-Dillenburg in 1623 and ruled jointly as Counts, until Albert died in 1626 and Louis Henry became the sole ruler, becoming Prince in 1654. In 1616, he married Countess Catherine of Sayn-Wittgenstein (1588-1651) with whom he had five sons and eight daughters. In 1653 he married his second wife Wild- and Rhinegravine Elizabeth of Salm-Dhaun (1593-1656) with whom he had three sons. In 1656, he married his third wife, Sofie Magdalene of Nassau-Hadamar (1622-1658).

A signed and dated variant from 1665, with an extended composition on the right side and additional figures, was sold at Christie's, London, 19 February 1939, lot 27.