* Hendrik van Somer Amsterdam 1615 - 1684

The present painting, which recently came to light, represents a significant addition to the artist's known oeuvre.  We are grateful to Professor Nicola Spinosa for suggesting the attribution to Hendrick van Somer on the basis of photographs. 

Hendrick van Somer was born in Amsterdam, but is recorded as an active member of Ribera's circle in Naples from circa 1635 to circa 1650.  For more information on the artist see G.J. Hoogewerff, "Hendrick van Somer, Schilder Nachfolger von Ribera", in Oud Holland, vol. 60, 1943, pp. 158 - 172, and more recently an article written by Nicola Spinosa in "Napoli, l'Europa - Ricerche di Storia dell' Arte in onore di Ferdinando Bologna", ed. Donzelli, Rome, 1996.