Dr J. Paul Richter, London;

With Sedelmeyer, Paris, 1910 or shortly before;

Keꦛrsten W. von Schenck, Landsberg an der Lech, Bavariaꦕ;

Thence by descent.

E. Sack, Giambattista und Domenico Tiepolo, Hamburg 1910, p. 314, reproduced p. 315, fig. 336;

M. Goering, in F. Thieme & U. Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler, vol. XXXIII, Leipzig 1939, p. 160;

M. Precerutti-Garberi, 'Asterischi sull'attività di Domenico Tiepolo a Würzburg', in Commentari, 1960, pp. 278–79;

A. Morassi, A Complete catalogue of the paintings of G.B. Tiepolo, London 1962, p. 43;

M. Precerutti-Garberi, 'Segnalazioni tiepolesche', in Commentari, no. 3/4, 1964, p. 256;

A. Morassi, 'Giandomenico Tiepolo', in Enciclopedia Universale dell'Arte, Venice and Rome 1965;

A. Mariuz, Giandomenico Tiepolo, Venice💦 and Milan 1971, p. 120, r𝐆eproduced plate 307.

The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: Structural Condition The canvas has been lined onto a new keyed wooden stretcher. This is ensuring a stable structural support and has successfully secured the pattern of very fine lines of drying craquelure which are most evident in the pale pigments of the sky. Paint Surface The paint surface has a rather uneven varnish layer and would certainly benefit from cleaning and revarnishing should this be required. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows only small scattered retouchings, including a few spots and lines in the upper left of the composition, a few other spots in the sky and a very small repaired tear, the lines of which are approximately 3 and 2 cm in length. This is approximately 12 cm from the left vertical framing edge and 13 cm below the upper horizontal framing edge. There may be other small scattered retouchings beneath the old varnish layers which are not identifiable under ultra-violet light. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in very good and stable condition and should benefit from cleaning, restoration and revarnishing.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The composition of this sketch is clearly related to the first of two drawings of the subject made as part of a cycle of 313 drawings of upright format illustrating The New Testament drawn in circa 1786–90.¹

1. Paris, Musée du Louvre, Département des Arts Graphiques, inv. RF 1713bis[95]; see A. M. Gealt and G. Knox, Domenico Tiepolo. A New Testament, Bloomington (Indiana) 2006, 𒁃pp. 400–01, no. 162.