Pieter Van der Werff established his artistic career in Rotterdam, in 1694. Throughout his life, he kept close to his older brother, Adriaen, both in style and subject. The two brothers worked together, Pieter often studying Adriaen's painting skills by copying his pictures.

Such interaction thus creates a great deal of confusion for contemporary art historians in trying to attribute pictures. Both artists remained rooted in the tradition of 18th Century portraiture, genre and history paintings, yet with a slightly Classical influence, imparted by Johann Wilhelm van der Plaz. The two brothers died only weeks apart in 1722....