A blacksmith at work

The present lot belongs to a group of four, depicting the interior of a forge: the first, signed and dated 1653, was offered at Frederik Muller Amsterdam, 25 April 1911, lot 60; the second was offered at Paul Brandt Amsterdam, 25/8 November 1970, lot 113, ill.; the third is in the Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico, where described as by Jan Miense Molenaer.
Here the painter shows a detailed interest in the blacksmith's craft. Another striking feature is the play of light within the forge, which emphasizes the man standing in the foreground before the fire, looking over his shoulder.