We know of around 20 night scenes by the Delft artist Leonaert Bramer painted on slate, a highly unusual support. Bramer spent some 13 years in Italy and was back in Delft by 1628. Painting on slate was unknown in the Netherlands so this painting likely was painted in Italy. Thanks to the picture’s excellent condition one can easily see how the artist created his light reflections with a few simple strokes, while leaving the slate untouched to depict the night sky.