Follower of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

With Galerie Jean Neger, Paris;
From whom acquired by Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., in 1953 (inv. no. L80.152);
His Estate sale, New York, Sotheby's, 1 June 1989, lot 59 (as Netherlandish follower of Bartolommeo Manfredi);
There purchased by Dr. Hilary Koprowski.

Norfolk, VA, Chrysler Museum, on loan, December 1975-1989.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work has been lined, perhaps in the last 50-75 years. The surface is flat and arguably a little pressed. The retouches are very discolored and poorly applied. They are clearly visible in the back of the figure in the center right. The red cloak of Christ is quite abraded in the darker colors, and there are restorations here. The armor of the figure on the far left is thin, but there are other areas that are very well preserved. If the painting is fully cleaned, numerous restorations will be removed, above the neck of Christ for instance and elsewhere. However, the condition and the quality of the picture would certainly benefit from this.
"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."

The style of this painting is consistent with that of Caravaggio's northern European followers, though the type of canvas suggests the artist was working in Italy at the time of its execution.