Pieter Bout was born in Brussels, probably ca. 1640/1645. He spent most of his career in Brussels: he got married in 1667 and became a master of the Brussels guild of St Luke in 1670. He taught at least one pupil, the little-known Franciscus de Bargas. His earliest known work dates from 1664 (currently in the Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga in Lisbon). Some believe Bout lived in Paris for a while, although there are no archival records to substantiate this. He mainly lived and worked in Brussels, until his death (presumably in 1689) after a brief bout of illness.

Bout was a very versatile painter: not only was he an accomplished painter of cityscapes, often with large crowds (such as his crowded views of Paris), but he also produced harbour scenes, architectural pieces and landscapes. He also collaborated with other artists, such as Lucas Achtschellinck, Adriaen Fransz Boudewijns and Jacques d’Arthois, painting the staffage in their landscapes. In the present painting, Bout has successfully united several themes in one single setting, showing off his Italianate influences, as well as demonstrating his mastery of landscape, marine and staffage painting.