This antique painting was purchased on the important auction of Sotheby`s "From german Castles", 9-14 october 2000, lot number 467 , came to the auction from the estate of family Prince Hohenzollern ( castle Sigmaringen). On the reverse of the painting there is original castle inscription (in German) with inventory nmber : "Schloss Sigm(aringen),II.B.2/656. The painting was attributed by Sothebys experts due to the composition, style and time of creation to School of famous Flemish genre artist of Baroque David Ryckaert (1612 - Antwerpen - 1661). A member of the Ryckaert family of artists, he was born and raised in Antwerpen, the city in which he conducted his career and in which he died. He was the son of David Ryckaert II, grandson of David Ryckaert I, and nephew of Martin Ryckaert.David Ryckaert was a pupil of his homonymous father; his work was influenced by the styles of Adriaen Brouwer and both David Teniers the Elder and David Teniers the Younger. Ryckaert is noted for large and often humorous genre pictures of farmers and landlords, and powerfully coloured still lifes. He also painted a range of other subjects, including religious pictures; his The Temptation of Saint Anthony (1650) is in the collection of the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.Ryckaert was also a noted performer on the Baroque guitar.

Literature: Thieme/Becker "Lexicon of artists from antique to contemporary", Leipzig, 1999;

Provenience: estate of prince Hohenzollern, purchased on auction "From German castles", Sothebys, castle Monrepos, Germany, 9-14. october 2000, Lot No. 467.

Inscription: unsigned , reverse inscribed with castle igmaringen inventory number.

Technique: oil on metall. original flemish frame.

Measurements: unframed w 10 1/2" x h 8 1/4 " (27 x 21 cm), framed w 16 3/4 " x h 14 1/3 " (42,5 x 36,5 cm)

Condition: in very good condition, no inpaintings or painlosses.