School of Haarlem, circa 1640

Colonel Lionel Philips, Ipswich;
With David Koetser, Zurich;
From whom acquired by a private collector (as Jan Vermeer II);
Anonymous sale ('Property from a European Private Collection'), London, Sotheby's, 4 December 2014, lot 164 (as attributed to Philips Koninck);
Where acquired by the present owner.

When this painting was offered at auction in 2014 it was attributed to Philips Koninck and sold with a copy of a written certificate from Laurens J. Bol, dated 11 November 1978, attributing the picture to Jan Vermeer II (Haarlem 1628–1691) or his son Jan Vermeer III (Haarlem 1656–1705). Paintings by Philips Koninck and Jan Vermeer II are very close in style, and clearly the artist of the present canvas was influenced by both.