Noah herding animals towards the Ark

Derives from a composition by Jan Breughel I of which the prime version, of 1613, is in a private collection (see K. Ertz, Jan Breughel der Altëre, Cologne, 1979, p. 603, no. 273, fig. 307). The present work adheres closely to the above although there are differences in the details and, most notably, the posture of the horse is reversed. Van Kessel is known to have made several copies after this composition: for example, the signed canvas sold, Christie's, Amsterdam, 7 May 1997, lot 55 (98,022 florins).