_Gerrit Berck-Heyde_ (Dutch: 1638-1698).
Gerrit, and his elder brother, Job, were the sons of a butcher
at Haarlem. Gerrit was very skilful in lineal perspective,
and reproduced with remarkable fidelity the most complicated
architectural views. The brothers worked together a great deal,
and Job often painted the figures in Gerrit's pictures. "The
pictures of both brothers are remarkable for a broad style of
painting, for brilliant sunlight, and careful, but not over
elaborate, drawing of details, and the figures are invariably
well grouped" (Official Catalogue).
A view of the painter's favourite subject, the market-place of Haarlem.
The picture is signed, and dated 1674.