The present painting is an interesting genre scene that faithfully reflects the rural environment of the time. On the left side of the scene a family is gathered: a mother is nursing her baby, looking thoughtfully at two other babies who are drinking milk from a plate. The boy on the left brings a bucket to his mother. Three sheep keep the scene company. Against the gray background there is a hint of the father of this family, who will most likely lead the flock to pasture. Painted mainly in shades of gray from which the pink of the complexions and the yellow of the dress emerge. Although it is a sketch, the quality of the painting technique is such that it can be considered a Bartolomè Esteban Murillo (1618 - 1682). The same painting is in fact attested in the catalog raisonné of the artist "Klaisser der Kunst in Gesamtausgaben", volume 22, page 217, of 1913. From the deed of sale, it emerges that the painting was purchased in 1925 by Mr. W. Suermondt of Rotterdam from the very famous collection of Jacques Goudstikker in Amsterdam. This is confirmed by the presence on the back of the painting of the label with the inventory number and the wax seal of the collection. The present masterpiece is one of the few that survived the sacking of the Nazis during the Second World War, who invaded Amsterdam in 1940 and stole over 800 artworks belonging to this collection. We also know that the present work remained in the hands of Mr. Seurmondt himself at least until 1965, when he had it restored.
