Oil on thick wooden board. 34,5 x 28,5 cm. Back in the 1950`s, this small landscape painting was in the possession of Meretha Rhapsohl, a high end collector of old masters in Austria. Her collection was never exhibited and kept away from public up until the Lady passed quietly away in a car explosion during a trip to USA in 1986. Her grandson Heinrich brought the collection in to the well known Kempten Reichstadtkunstmuseum and had the artworks estimated to about USD 400.000. Four months later the collection was split up and sold at auction. This particular piece was first thought to be a small study by Girmahr Frantzel, student of the Dutch master Albrecht Paderborn. However, the painting was purchased by a French collector of 17th. century landscape art at a bargain price, and was hung in his front room. One day, whilst having their supper, the five years old daughter of the French collector was talking about the "the cat on the road". At first, her parents did not pay much attention to this remark. However, the young lady kept referring to "the cat on the road" the following week, and finally her father asked her about where this cat was heading. The girls replied: "Out of the painting", and she took her father to have a look at the landscape picture in the front room. To his surprise, he realized that his daughter was correct all the time. The character in the painting walking up the roads, was truly a cat, not a human. The painting was taken back to the museum and the misattribution was confirmed. This was probably a painting by Felix Fiigenschou. Later, the piece was cleaned, and a clear signature was uncovered, hence putting an end to all the arguments perviously made by those attributing the piece to Frantzel. A note in the diary of Felix Fiigenschou indicates this study was taken in Gloomheim in 1631 during his journey back to Norway: "June 9th. 1631 "A series of tiring events - A journey" I arrived at the port of Christiania this afternoon, after a complicated journey. I had to exchange vessel at Gloomheim am Merhen and arrived a fraction too late for my connecting vessel to Faarupshaven. There were no more ships the forthcoming week, and henceforth I had to wait in the dull countryside of Gloomheim. In my state of absolute boredom I went as far as conducting a small landscape painting to kill some time. I used a small piece of wood I found. Fortunately after three days of waiting I was urgently called upon and informed about a vessel going to Christiania by Hull in five minutes, and I swiftly assembled my belongings and boarded the ship. I then realized that the ship I had gotten on to was going to Tardmouth further down the coast. When I came to Tardmouth, I had to catch a chariot to Faulton on Sea and then further to Hull. I arrived just in time to catch a ship to Christiansand. From there I got a small vessel to my final destination. At last." We regret to inform that this item is sold.