Expertise Ludwig Meyer, Munchen. 26.03.12.                   

Provenance
Anonymous Sale, London, Christie's, 24th February 1984, lot 35
Possibly the collection of Wladimir Nikolaevitch Argoutonsky-Doloroukoff (according to M.J..Friedländer).

Probably M. J.Friedländer, Early Netherlandish Painting, vol. XII, Leiden/Brussels 1975, p. 107, cat. no. 169b.

The prototype of this work is the signed picture of Marinus van Reymerswaele in 1542, now in the Old Pinakothek in Munich (see M.J. Friedländer, op. Cit., P. 107, no. 169, reproduction 95).  The existence of numerous versions, studio copies and repetition clearly demonstrates the success that works with a satirical mood have deservedly enjoyed.