possibly, Erasmus II Quellinus (1607-1678), Antwerp, (‘Twee Patersmuylen Rubbens’);
possibly, sale, London, 26 February 1690, ‘Two Fryers in one frame Vandyke’;
possibly, Michael Dahl (1656 or 1659-1743);
his sale, Cock, London, 10 February 1744 (54), as Van Dyck ‘Two old mens heads singing’);
Thomas Gainsborough, R.A., (1727-1788);
his sale, London, 30 March 1789 (30) (35) acc. to London 1968, as by Rubens;
bought by George Greville (1746-1816), 2nd Earl of Warwick;
by descent to David Greville (1934-1996), 8th Earl of Warwick;
by whom sold, Sotheby’s, London, 13 July 1977 (46), as by Rubens;
bought by a forebear of the present owner.

Catalogue of Pictures at Warwick Castle, c.1800, Ms. (WCRO CR1886 Box 476), ‘Men Singing, a study’ by Rubens in the End Room;
Inventory compiled by William Kendal, 1853, Ms. (WCRO CR1886 Box 783/16), ‘Head of two Old Men studying music’ in the Compass Room;
Inventory of Warwick Castle, c.1900, Ms. (WCRO CR1886 Box 476), ‘Head of Monks by English School’ in Morning Room or ‘Old Mans head by Rubens’ in the Chapel Passage;

Description of Pictures in Warwick Castle, The Gentlemans Magazine, 1800, p. 1143, as ‘Two Monks – Rubens’;
Passavant 1833, p. 219, as by Rubens;
Passavant 1836, II, p. 83, as by Rubens;
Smith 1842, p. 258, as by Rubens engraved by J. Spilsbury;
British Institution 1865, no. 30, as by Van Dyck;
Gainsborough’s Collection 1944, pp. 107, 109, as by Rubens;
Leamington Spa 1948, as by Rubens;
Waterhouse 1958, p. 125, as an original called a Rubens;
Jaffé 1966, p. 94, as by Van Dyck;
London 1968, p. 15, no. 7, as by Van Dyck;
Belsey 1987, pp. 108-9, consensus pointing to Van Dyck;
Larsen 1988, no. 85, as Van Dyck;
Mould 2006, p. 52, n. 28;
Van Hout 2020, I, pp. 237-40, no. 102a, II, fig. 350, as workshop of Rubens;
Seim 2022, pp. 31-3, 37, 41;
Davies 2022b, pp. 49, 53 n. 17.

None visible

JVDPPP would like to thank Adam Busiakiewicz for his kind assistance with the provenance and literature for this panel.