Circle of Carlo Maratta

In the catalogue of the Pictures in the collection of Sir George Broke-Middleton at Broke Hall drawn up in 1855, an annotation records 'the Italian paintings largely collected by Mr. Martin Bowes of Bury St. Edmunds, in Italy in 1700'. This was Martin Bowes, son and heir of Paul Bowes, who is recorded in Padua with Thomas Herne between 1701 and 1702 (cf. J. Ingamells, A Dictionary of British and Irish travellers in Italy 1701-1800, New Haven and London 1991, p. 113). Several of the pictures included in this sale were acquired by Martin Bowes in Italy, including the present and following lots. Bowes's daughter Anne later married Philip Bowes Broke of Broke Hall, Nacton, Suffolk, in whose inventory of 1801 these paintings are first recorded (see Literature below).