<P> The picture is authentic, but not a masterpiece . The man's head is too large in relation to the girl . Since the sale of 1808 the picture has passed under the name of "The Burgomaster of Delft and his Daughter ." If the tradition is correct, the persons represented are Geraldo Briel van Welhoeck (1593 - 1665) with his daughter Anna, who was born in 1638, and married in 1656 Adriaan Bogaert van Beloys . Signed in the full on the edge of a step, and dated 1655; canvas, 32 1 / 2inches by 27 inches . Exhibited at the Royal Academy Winter Exhibition, London, 1882, No. 238 . </P> <P> Sales . E.M. Engelberts and Tersteeg, Amsterdam, June 13, 1808, No. 142 (75 florins, Nieuwenhuys). Domsert, London, 1811 (88, Charlesson). Purchased by Edward, Lord Penrhyn, from the dealer, Nieuwenhuys . Now in the collection of Lord Penrhyn, Penrhyn Castle ." </P> <P> This painting was featured on the cover of Simon Schama's 1987 book The Embarrassment of Riches . After over a century at Penrhyn Castle, the painting was sold to the Rijksmuseum in July 2004 for 11.9 million euro's whereupon it became the most expensive painting purchase for the museum . The British government delayed issuance of an export license to give British institutions the chance to buy the painting, but after the sole interested party withdrew their offer in August, the export license was issued . In 2006 research on the portrayed Delft cityscape and the people portrayed resulted in a title change . It had already been assumed for over a century that the man in the painting was not the mayor of Delft . </P>

Jan steen a burgher of delft and his daughter 1655