Giuseppe Zocchi Florence 1716/17 - 1767

Sold together with a preliminary drawing for the picture by Zocchi (brown ink and wash on paper; 184 by 254 mm.; 7 1/4  by 10 in.).

Jephthah led the Israelites to war against the Ammonites and, on the eve of the battle, made a pact with God that in return for his protection and victory he would sacrifice "the first creature that comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return" (Book of Judges, Chapter 11: verses 30-40). Unfortunately his daughter came out to meet him on his return, accompanied by a group of maidens playing instruments, and it is this moment that Zocchi has chosen to depict: Jephthah, startled at the noise coming from the band, looks on in distress as his daughter comes forth to meet him. The preparatory drawing which accompanies this lot probably served as a modello for the painted composition since it is almost identical to the final painting (except for slight proportional adjustments between figures and architecture): it is conceivable that Zocchi may have executed it as a presentation drawing for his patron to approve.