Luca Giordano, called Fa Presto Naples 1634 - 1705

This painting appears to be a bozzetto or modello for the artist's final work in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, inv. MI867 (see O. Ferrari & G. Scavizzi, Luca Giordano. L'opera completa, Naples 1992, vol. I, p. 323, cat. no. A446, reproduced vol. II, p. 708, fig. 575). The Paris canvas (117 by 137 cm.), which has been dated to circa 1688, was previously considered by scholars to be a work by Paolo de Matteis (perhaps due to its problematic state of conservation): this opinion was revised after the publication of Ferrari and Scavizzi's 1966 edition of Giordano's paintings and was accepted as a fully autograph work by the artist in their 1992 edition. The Louvre picture has been tentatively identifed with the painting recorded by Bernardo De Dominici as hanging in the palazzo of the duca di Montenapoleone.

A preparatory drawing for the composition, in black chalk and wash, measuring 284 by 440 mm., is in the British Museum, London, inv. 1950.11.11.46 (see fig. 1; op. cit., vol. I, p. 371, cat. no. D109, reproduced vol. II, fig. 576). The grouping of the figures in the centre background of the drawing seems closer to that in the present painting than to that in the Louvre canvas, thereby suggesting that it pre-dates the Louvre picture. The putto upper centre is also similar to that in the drawing, whereas Giordano moves the putto slightly to the right in the Louvre painting (possibly following the patron's request).