This fine decorative drawing is attributed to de Vlieger who is chiefly known as a marine painter, but who also painted genre scenes, wooded landscapes and portraits. He produced etchings, mainly of landscape and animals, designed tapestries for the Town Hall at Delft in 1640, and decorated the doors of the organ of the Laurenskerk in Rotterdam.

In 1638 he moved from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, where, towards the end of his life Willem Van de Velde the Younger was his pupil. He influenced Hendrik Dubbels and Jan Van de Cappelle (who collected his drawings), and established the course of Dutch marine painting in the second half of the 17th century. There are a number of paintings by him in the Museum's collection.