Anonymous sale, London, Christie's South Kensington, 21 November 2012, lot 2 (as Willem van de Velde II and studio).

A version of this composition in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg, is described by Michael Robinson as 'perhaps a studio version with some help from the master of an original painted by the Younger for the Van de Velde studio in 1633'.¹ Robinson also lists a version in the collection of Thomas Pratt by 1773, that was engraved by both P.C. Canot in that same year, and also by Mattheus de Sallieth. What is thought to have been the Pratt version was later sold at Christie's London, 13 May 1848, lot 89, the property of William Wells of Redleaf, Kent, to Charles Sackville Bale who in turn sold it at Christie's London, 14 May 1881, lot 283. The Pratt version was described by Hofstede de Groot from the Sallieth engraving.² Whether that picture may be identifiable as the present lot remains unclear. The particularly high quality of the execution of the sky in this canvas might indicate the hand of Adriaen van de Velde (1636–72), who is known to have collaborated on works produced by his brother Willem. 

Two copies are also listed by Robinson: one with Leonard Koetser Gallery, London, by 1936; another sold London, Sotheby's, 16 July 1975, lot 23.³ A third copy, previously in the collection of Mrs Doodeheefver-Toonoen, was sold in her sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, 1 July 2004, lot 708.

1. M. S. Robinson, The Paintings of the Willem van de Velde, London 1990, vol. II, pp. 808–09, cat. no. 180, reproduced.
2. C. Hofstede de Groot, A Catalogue Raisonné..., vol. VII, London 1909, p. 135, cat. no. 533 .
3. Robinson 1998, vol. II, p. 809.