(Dutch, 1610-1668)Merry Party in a Tavern, after 1644, unsigned, oil on canvas, 17-5/8 x 21 in. (43.18 x 53.34 cm); unframed - Note: Comments from Ellis Dullaart, MA, Curator Dutch and Flemish Old Master Painting, RKD: "Your painting is documented in our files on Jan Miense Molenaer with an old black-and-white photograph dating back to 1927, which we received from art dealer Douwes, Amsterdam. It is likely that Douwes had the painting in stock by 1927. Interestingly, our files also hold reproductions of another version of the composition, from sale catalogue Vienna (Dorotheum), 7 May 1923, lot 32. A note on the mount of both these images leads us to a solution to the attribution question. According to this note, by our former member of staff Willem van de Watering, both paintings mentioned above are copies after a signed and dated painting by Molenaer from 1644, which was offered for sale at the auction Paris, 20 June 1898, lot 175 (panel), 39 x 43 cm, as previously in the collection Brondgeest, probably Albertus Brondgeest;ÿand later on in Paris, 15-16 November 1933, lot 33 (https://rkd.nl/explore/excerpts/326930).Comparison of the three versions shows interesting differences: the view into another room on the left hand side is much more elaborate in your painting and the Viennese version. Your painting lacks the spectators in the window on the right, but then again features two additional children on the outer left and right hand sides of the central figure group. The facial types of the figures in your painting are also very different from those in the other two versions. Identifying the possible author of your painting is unfortunately rather difficult. On the basis of the available images, I think the 1644 Paris painting could well be an authentic work by Jan Miense Molenaer, since the composition, subject and figures compare well to those in other accepted works by his hand, mostly from the period 1630-1645 (for instance: https://rkd.nl/explore/images/3990, https://rkd.nl/explore/images/69602). Your painting would then be an adjusted copy based on the 1644 painting. However, the facial types of the figures in your painting are so specific and so different from Molenaer?s faces, that I would expect these to belong to a known artist. However, I do not recognize the hand and comparison with theÿoeuvresÿof Molenaer?s followers and artists from his circle did not yield any useful results. This means that, at least for now, I can only classify your painting as a free copy after Jan Miense Molenaer, created after 1644."Brunk Auctions would like to thankÿEllis Dullaart and Dennis Weller for their expertise. This lot is accompanied by documents from the RKD, The Hague, Netherlands. - Provenance: Douwes, Amsterdam, circa 1927 (per RKD records); By descent to John & Galy Peters lined, tacking edges trimmed, some lifting from lining, two periods of restoration with retouch at repairs and scattered throughout