(Pieter Willemsz. van der Stock?, active 1635–1651)
A church interior with a man being removed by soldiers and elegantly dressed figures,
signed with monogram and indistinctly dated: PW 16(.)6,
oil on panel, 75.3 x 119.3 cm, framed

The present painting is a typical work by the Monogrammist PW, probably identifiable as Pieter Willemsz. van der Stock (circa 1593 – after 1650). This artist from Amsterdam appears to have preferred signing his works using his forename initials. His inventory drawn up after the artist’s bankruptcy in 1651 lists a number of architectural perspectives and church interiors. He is also mentioned as an author of ‘Perspectives’, where he is referred to as ‘Metselaer’, meaning brick-layer or stonemason (see A. Bredius, Künstler Inventare, The Hague 1915-21, pp. 1222 and 1301).

The artist also collaborated with other colleagues for the staffage in his compositions. The figures in the painting with Sotheby’s, Paris, 27 June 2013, lot 17 were painted by Willem Cornelisz. Duyster (Amsterdam 1599–1635). Other examples of the artist’s work were offered at Christie’s London, 10 December 1993, lot 213 and at Christie’s New York, 12 January 1996, lot 4.