Oil on panel, 26.7cm by 20cm.
This painting was left to Brownlow, 9th Earl of Exeter (1725-1793), in a bequest from a Mrs. Wilkinson of Ketton in Rutland.
Jan Lievens was a child prodigy, who began a career as an independent artist at the age of 12.
His style was very similar to that of Rembrandt (1606-1699), with whom he shared a studio, and with whom he collaborated from 1626-1631.
He was then invited to the Court of James I where he was influenced by the works of Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641).
