Mattia Preti

Inscribed left on the tree trunk, INDI diceal questa dole.../Perche se sia/ Giamai.../Senta...

Anonymous sale ("The Property of the Beneficiaries of Deceased Estates"), London, Sotheby’s, 8 July 1987, lot 40;
With Graham Arader III, New York;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby’s, 2 June 1989, lot 40A;
There purchased by Dr. Hilary Koprowski. 

J.T. Spike, Mattia Preti, Catalogue Raisonné of the Paintings, Florence 1999, p. 237, cat. no. 157, reproduced in color p. 33.

The canvas has a new glue relining and the paint surface overall is well preserved and clean beneath a clear and fresh varnish. There is a repaired compact tear of approximately 5 by 6 in. to the background beside the raised hand, which is visible in raking light. There are a further two small repaired losses or holes of approximately 1 in. diameter in the background near the center of the left edge and in the background below the figure's left hand. These are in no way distracting from the image. There is a fine horizontal crease running parallel to the lower edge at the center. Inspection under UV reveals very minor retouching scattered along the lower edge and lower corners, retouching to the aforementioned damages and what appear to be two further minor retouched holes or losses in the hair on the sitter's shoulder. The painting is ready to hang and requires no further work. Offered in a decoratively carved gilt wood frame in good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The subject of this picture is taken from Torquato Tasso's Gerusalemme liberata (1580). During the crusades, the Saracen princess Erminia was forced to flee for her life and found shelter with a family of shepherds. During these days of hiding, Erminia was overcome by her love for the hero Tancred, and the beautiful maiden inscribed Tancred's name on every tree and branch. In Preti's rendition of this story, the words on the tree are in fact the beginnings of the first five lines in Tasso's Canto VII, verse 20:

Indi dicea piangendo:- In voi serbate
questa dolente istoria, amiche piante;
perchè, se sia ch'a le vostr'ombre grate
giamai soggiorni alcun fedele amante,
senta svegliarsi al cor dolce pietate...¹

John Spike has published this picture as a key example from Preti's early career, from circa 1640, notable for its rare literary subject and clear stylistic allusion to Paolo Veronese. The choice of subject matter was doubtless inspired by Pietro da Cortona and Nicolas Poussin, both of whom had painted stories from Tasso in Venetian influenced styles. 

1. Translation: 
"You happy trees forever keep," quoth she,
"This woful story in your tender rind,
Another day under your shade maybe
Will come to rest again some lover kind;
Who if these trophies of my griefs he see,