Attributed to Pieter van der Hulst the Younger

This work was created by a follower of the Antwerp painter Sebastiaen Vrancx (1547–1647), who excelled in painting energetic Flemish landscapes and town scenes featuring a multitude of figures. This painting is probably by the same hand as a similar townscape which sold at Replica Shoes 's, Amsterdam in 1998.¹ Although then given to Hans Jordaens III, Marijke C. de Kinkelder of the RKD has since reattributed the work to Pieter van der Hulst the Younger (act. 1620–37), the elusive son of Pieter van der Hulst the Elder (1570–1627/9), to whom few paintings have been given with any certainty. The perspective, colouring, interest in architecture and handling of figures found here is remarkably similar to the panel sold in 1998.

¹ Replica Shoes 's, Amsterdam, 16 December 1998, lot 19 (as Hans Jordaens III).