Paintings on slate are unusual in Dutch painting. The only Dutch painter known to have used this material as a substrate was Leonaert Bramer, who settled in Delft following a stay of several years in Italy, rising to become the leading painter in the city. It is likely that Bramer first encountered the use of slate as a substrate whilst in Italy, as it was relatively common there. The artist also played an important role in the dissemination of chiaroscuro painting from Italy to Holland. His unique style is characterised by dramatic plays of light, often deriving from artificial light sources such as the burning torch used in the present work, and a penchant for nocturnal scenes to facilitate these effects, alongside a colour palette dominated by shades of grey and brown.This painting is registered with the RKD in The Hague under the number 217079 as an authentic work by this artist. Dimensions 29.5 x 22.5 cm Artist or Maker Leonaert Bramer Medium Oil on slate Provenance Sotheby's, London, 29.4.2010, lot 173. Notes VAT: Margin scheme