Purchased in Europe in the 1950s by Mr. Duarte, Mexico;
Thence by descent.

Orazio de' Ferra꧂ri was a prolific artist and this very impressive painting is a cha𒉰racteristic example of his work. Typically, as in the present  work, he places his figures in the foreground of the picture plane, and illuminates it against a dark background. The strong sense of drama and the depiction of muscular, almost Rubensian figures, reveal Assereto's influence.

We are grateful to Dr. Mary Newcome Schleier for making the attribution to Orazio de' Ferrari, based on photographs. She suggests a possible dating of the painting to the late 1640's, comparing it to the St. James consecrating St. Peter Martyr in the Oratory of San Giacomo della Marina, Genoa, which is signed and dated 1647, as well as one of Orazio's most famous works, the Last Supper in the church of San Siro, Genova.¹

1  See P. Donati, Orazio de' Ferrari, Genoa 1997, cats. no. 80-81, 💫🍒illus.