Follower of Lavinia Fontana

The original prototype for this design is in the Escorial, Madrid (see M. Cantaro, Lavinia Fontana bolognese, Milan 1989, pp. 146-7, cat. no. 4a.58, reproduced). The present painting probably derives from a lost original of this composition by Fontana, which was recorded with numerous differences and in reverse by a follower which was offered in London, Sotheby's, 9 November 1966, lot 79 (see ibid, p. 291, cat. no. 4d.159, reproduced).