Previously known as 'Le Mâitre aux Béguins', the artist's identity has recently been established by a picture fully signed 'AB . WILLEMSENS . FE.' (AB in monogram), sold at Christie's, London, April 19, 1991, lot 90. Willemsems is listed as an apprentice in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1627/8, is recorded in Paris circa 1645, and died in Antwerp in 1672. For a discussion of his work, see Gregory Martin, The Mâitre aux Béguins. A proposed identification, Apollo, CXXXIII, no. 348, Feb. 1991, pp. 112-5.

The present painting will be published by Gregory Martin in a forthcoming article in Apollo entitled, 'Anton Willemsens Again'