Hitherto unknown painting by Wouwerman sold in Paris

The painting After the Chase (canvas, 63 x 80 cm, signed lower left) was until a few weeks ago only known to the public through a small written entry in the catalogue raisonné on the paintings by Philips Wouwerman by Hofstede de Groot in 1908 (no. 712). Possibly in French private collections since the 19th century, no image was published of this work as well.
On 24th June 2011 the picture was sold for € 280.000 (plus buyer's premium) by Piasa in the Hotel Drouot Richelieu in Paris.

After the Chase belongs to the early hunting scenes by the Haarlem master and can be dated around 1647/1648. The very light yellowish varnish doesn't affect the very good condition of the work, which, regarding the broad variety of landscape and staffage details is a very good example for Wouwerman's mastership even in his early period.