Francesco Solimena

(Serino, 1657 - Napoli, 1747)

Workshop of

Oil on canvas

cm. 75x101. Framed

The present work is a fine coeval replica of the painting of the same subject by Francesco Solimena today preserved at the National Gallery in London, which Nicola Spinosa dates to 1708-1710. In his recent monograph on the painter, the scholar notes that "della tela della National Gallery di Londra sono note almeno tre copie d'atelier di ridotte dimensioni e con alcune varianti [la prima delle quali] identificata nel 2000 in una privata raccolta italiana (cm. 75x101) (...)" (Spinosa 2018, p. 393). Although not reproduced, it can be assumed that this studio copy is to be identified with the present example, given the absolute equivalence of the measurements, the presence of some small differences compared to the superb London autograph and the faithful adherence to the master's style.
COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
N. Spinosa, Francesco Solimena e le arti a Napoli, Roma 2018, n. 161, pp. 392-393.