Porträtt av ungt par.

Detta unga par, nyligen trolovade eller gifta, är avbildat i en park. Parken tillhör ett imponerade lantgods med ett hjorthägn och erbjuder en vidsträckt vy över de lantliga omgivningarna. Ett typiskt porträtt av Michiel van Musscher med en lättsam ton och elegant färghållning. Landskapet kan eventuellt vara utfört av en annan kostnär. -*- This portrait of a young couple, recently betrothed or married, is set in the grounds of an imposing country house with a deer park and extensive views across the surrounding countryside. With its lightness of touch and elegant colouring, this is typical of Michiel van Musscher's portraits. The landscape may possibly be the work of a different artist.

Kommentarer från forskare Dr. Phil.Robert Gerhard, Pennsylvania USA.
(skriver katalog om van Musscher 2012)

2It is of a rather uncommon large size, 78 x 64.6 cm for Van Musscher; most of his works being smaller. Second, the background does not appear to be of his exacting detail. Amd it is certainly non-Nederlandisch. Particularly, some of the deer are anatomically disproportioned. I do note that the catalogue does mention that “The landscape may possibly be the work of a different artist.”

The signature remnants do appear to be entirely consistent with his early, somewhat printed script. For the date, I have trouble deciding on the last digit - ? 5, 7, or 9. Since the early auction catalogues and museum catalogues state it is a “9,” I would not argue. The third digit clearly is a “7.”
Michiel married his first wife Eva Visscher in August 1678, and it is tempting to suggest that your painting is a betrothal portrait. I think there is a slight resemblance of the woman to other portraits by Van Musscher of Eva, but several colleagues do not agree. In any event, the male does not resemble Van Musscher so I do not think we can advance the identities of the couple any further. All in all, I think it is an authentic, fairly early Van Musscher, albeit with an unusual depiction (for him).