The Heiligewegspoort, from the north-west, with skaters on the frozen canal

The present lot depicts a view of the now-destroyed Heiligewegspoort on the southern edge of the old city wall at the end of the Heilige Weg (so-named because it was ultimately the route for the Holy Land), on the site today of the corner of the Leidsergracht and the Herengracht. The gate was built in 1636, as a replacement for an older gate of the same name, by Jacob van Campen (1595-1657), the great exponent of Dutch Classical architecture.

The Beerstraten were a Dutch family of artists, including most prominently Jan Abrahamsz. (1622-1666) and his eldest son, Abraham. Both Jan and Abraham specialised in paintings of winter townscapes, sea battles and southern sea ports. Paintings signed 'J...', 'I...', 'Johannes Beerstraten' are assumed to be by Jan. However, it is still as yet unclear who executed the paintings signed 'A. Beerstraten', which differ considerably in quality. The better paintings from the latter group are attributed to Abraham on the basis of comparison with the View of the Old Town Hall in Kampen of 1665 (formerly Landsdowne Col., Bowood House, Wiltshire), that is signed 'Abraham Beerstraten'. This group includes the view of the Heiligewegspoort and a winter view of the Noorder Kerk in Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Historisches Museum), also signed 'A. Beerstraten', on the basis of which the present painting is also given to Abraham.