This museum quality old master painting was confirmed as original  work of  Gerard Thomas by Mr. Dr.Peter Wolf , the Expert for Old Masters of Vienna "Dorotheum" in 2000. 

Gerard Thomas (1663–1721) was a late Flemish Baroque painter who specialized in studio and picture gallery interiors. He studied by by Gottfried Maes (1680/1681), became a master in Antwerp´s Guild of St. Luke in 1688–89, and was dean twice. Between 1993 and 1717 - Stud. Master of Abraham van den Bosch, J.Stamphef, Th.Van Herrenthals and others flemisch painters. Many of his paintings reflect a trend in Antwerpen painting around 1700 that show artists—often historical masters from earlier in the century like Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck or Jacob Jordaens—in their studios, surrounded by paintings and sculptures, and teaching the craft to a young apprentice. The masters are often only hinted by the works of art pictured in the painting itself, however. Works by Thomas situated in the noble and royal collections in Europe (for example Royal collection of Her Majesty the Queen of England Elisabeth II ).

Literature:  Wurzbach "Neiderländischer Künstlerlexikon"(1910); Thieme/Becker"General Artist Dictionary", Leipzig, 1999;

Inscription: signed and lower right

Technique: oil on canvas.   Luxuriousy wood-crafted and gold-plated frame.

Measurements:  unframed w 33 3/4" x h 26 1/3" (86  x 67 cm), framed w 42 " x  h 34 1/2" ( 106,5 x 87,5 cm)

Condition:   in very  good  condition