The attribution has been kindly suggested by K. Schaffers-Bodenhausen of the Stichting Iconographisch Bureau, The Hague, who has orally pointed out that the present painting should be compared with the group portrait dated 1635 in the Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp (see Catalogus Schilderkunst Oude Meesters, 1988, p. 282, inv.no. 810, with ill.). Both were painted when the artist was working in Delft under the influence of Michiel van Miereveldt

The identification of the seal on the reverse is due to Freifrau von Andrian-Werburg of the Germanisches National Museum, Nürnberg, who kindly pointed out that the Königlichen Bayerischen Halloberambt was active in the salt trade until 1819

See illustration