Sebastiano Ricci Belluno 1659 - 1734 Venice

Another version of this composition is in a Bolognese private collection (reproduced in E. Martini, La pittura veneziana del Settecento, Venice 1964, pp. 161-2, no. 47, fig. 45). It was published by Martini as an autograph work by Ricci and dated by him to circa 1719-20, by comparison with Ricci's Adoration of the Shepherds in the Chiesetta di S. Giuseppe di Tomo. Jeffrey Daniels also recorded the painting, but did not give an opinion as to its autograph status (see J. Daniels, Sebastiano Ricci, Hove 1976, p. 142, no. 494). A comparison between the two works clearly demonstrates that the Bolognese version is inferior to this one, and almost certainly a copy.

We are grateful to Prof. Lino Moretti for endorsing the attribution to Ricci, on the basis of a colour transparency. Prof. Moretti further suggests a date of execution of circa 1710, by comparison with Ricci's paintings of similar subject in the Lutomirski collection and at Hampton Court.