JEAN-BAPTISTE MARIE PIERRE (PARIS 1714-1789)

Olivier Aaron and Nicolas Lesur note that the prime version of this composition, along with it's pendant The Torment of Prometheus, now both in the Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe (inv. nos. 481 and 482), were given to the Count of Venice at the end of Jean-Baptist Marie Pierre's Italian sojourn. The present painting is a second version of the composition, probably made by the artist for use in his studio (loc. cit.).