A nobleman inspecting the construction of a polder at sunset, his carriage halting at the inn 'Virtuti saepius, contraria Fortuna'

Little is known about the artist. Chr. Kramm, De Levens en werken der Hollandsche en Vlaamsche kunstenaars, beeldhouwers, graveurs, en bouwmeesters, V, 1861, p.1368, mentions him as a Belgian painter of vedute of Brussels, which were engraved by A. Orio in 1797. No dates of birth and death are given. In addition to this, it can be stated that the painter visited Rome as two vedute of Saint Peter's, are recorded in the RKD (Anon. Sale, Puttick & Simpson, London, 30 January 1936, lot 116; signed and dated 1782; Anon. Sale, Christie's Rome, 13 December 1988, lot 124, with ill.).

In a contemporary gilded wooden frame with decoration of stylised guttae

See colour illustration