Filippo Lauri Rome 1623 - 1694

Filippo Lauri originally studied with the Flemish painter Balthasar Lauwers (1578-1645) and then successively with this brother Francesco Lauri (1612-37), and then with his brother-in-law Angelo Caroselli (1585-1652). In 1654 he was admitted to the Accademia di S Luca, Rome, of which he later became Principe in 1684.

The present composition relates to a signed version depicting King Midas judging the musical contest between Apollo and Pan which was sold Milan, Finarte, 3 April 1996 lot 123, where the pose of the satyr seated at the left, the figures behind King Midas and the figure to the right of the composition are repeated.