Attributed to Giovanni Bilivert Florence 1585 - 1644

With Gerardi, Florence, through whom purchased from Petrini by Sir Robert Gore-Booth, 4th Bt., M.P., on 20 July 1837, for 250 paoli, as 'Biliverty';
Thence by descent at Lissadell House, Co. Sligo, Ireland;
Edward Walsh, Lissadell House, Co. Sligo, Ireland;
His sale, on the premises at Lissadell House, Christie's, 25 November 2003, lot 280, where acquired by the present owner.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The original canvas has been wax-lined. The paint layer is stable. There is damage to the paint layer in the background above the head of St. Agnes. Extensive retouching to the lamb and strengthening of the blue robe is evident under U-V light . The varnish has degraded with the remains of a patchy older varnish visible beneath."
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Although unrecorded in Roberto Contini's monograph, this composition is known in another version, signed and dated 1629 and on a canvas of slightly different dimensions (134 by 108 cm.), which was sold in these Rooms, 2 July 1986, lot 313.

A painting of Saint Agnes is recorded by Cinelli in 1677 as being in a Florentine collection: "Casa di Andrea, del Canonico Ottavio e di Lorenzo del Rosso... S. Agnese... al naturale del Bilivelti". An inventory of 1689 of the same collection mentions the painting again, describing it as "S. Agnese al naturale ba 3 1/2 x 2 1/2. Stimato piastre 100".¹  Unfortunately the braccia measurements are not accurate enough to identify that work securely with either this or the ex-Sotheby's painting.

1.  See R. Contini, Bilivert, Florence 1985, p. 160, under Appendix I: Lost Works.