Mauerbach depository, Austria, from where transferred to the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities (for a detailed note on this provenance, see lot 412);
By whom sold, Vienna, Mak-Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Christie's, 29 October 1996, lot 46, for AS 126,000.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting has been fairly recently restored and should be hung as is. The canvas has an old glue lining and while the cracking is a little raised, the paint layer is stable. The paint layer has been cleaned and recently varnished and retouched. The retouches are visible under ultraviolet light in a very few spots addressing the cracking in the darkest colors beneath the figure group and a few dots in the sky in the upper right. Other than this hardly any retouches have been applied and the condition of the paint is clearly very good.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The motif of the woman milking a cow derives from a drawing by Van de Velde, formerly in the collection of M. Couteaux, Brussels, and sold Paris, 42 Rue des Jeuneurs, February 4, 1851, lot 24, and recurs in another work by the artist sold London, Sotheby's, 3 November 1971, lot 123.