This is a version of the picture ba Gerrit Dou housed at the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden. There are several differences, such as the more detailed rendering of the pebbles and rocks in the foreground. In a letter from 21st August 2008, Dr Uta Neidhardt, curator of the Dresden collection, wrote to the present owner: "Considering the interesting pentimenti and underdrawings, which partially differ from the completed painting of your Hermit, I have indeed the same opinion: your Hermit is considered to be the first composition of its kind, which presumably was followed by the even more refined Dresden version". Dimensions 53 x 43 cm Artist or Maker Gerard Dou, circle of Medium Oil on panel Provenance Dutch private collection. Notes VAT: Margin scheme