The Landgate at Rye was built in about 1329. The present lot may be compared in subject and also handling to the celebrated group of drawings of Rye dated 1633-4 by Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), H. Vey, Die Zeichnungen Anton van Dycks, Brussels, 1962, I, nos. 288-91, II, plates 340-3. Rye was the port from which boats made the crossing to Dieppe, and van Dyck, like the draughtsman of the present lot, probably drew his views while waiting for a favourable wind. An attribution to Willem Schellinks (1627-1678), who is known to have travelled through England, France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany, has been suggested.