View of Antwerp

Bukowski's, from Sweden, sells on 12 June 2016 a "Dutch School, 18th century" view of a city with strollers, estimated at 30,000 SEK (3,250 Euro).

It is a view of the Meir, at the time the main street of Antwerp (and now the main shopping street, the second most expensive street in the Belgian version of Monopoly). The large tower in the background is the spire of the Antwerp Cathedral (the second, identical spire has never been finished). The cityscape is nearly identical to some works by Erasmus de Bie (Antwerp, 1629-1675; example from the collection of the Rockoxhuis pictured first, example sold at Sotheby's in 2002 for £35,000 second) but is not by him and, looking at the clothing, should probably be dated slightly later (early 18th century).

It isn't a good painting, artistically, but historically and culturally these views of Antwerp are important and very popular, and if some people recognise the view it should easily fetch the estimate. Better versions, e.g. by Frans de Momper (a reverse view of the Meir, example sold at Dorotheum pictured), can go for 50,000 Euro. Other painters like Alexander van Bredael also painted nearly the same view, but all are better than what is for sale here.

The most comparable version is probably the one from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, which is also anonymous and dated to the 18th century (picture via Balat).

UPDATE: not sold, highest bid was only a miserable 783 Euro.