Francesco Albani (Bologna 1578-1660) and Studio

The present composition is known through four other versions, three on copper and one other on canvas. Catherine Puglisi believes the prime version to be a slightly smaller copper in the Musée Fabre, Montpellier (see C.R. Publisi, Francesco Albani, Yale 1999, cat. no. 46, p. 134, reproduced). Some doubt has been cast over whether Albani or his studio painted the Musée Fabre picture, although this view is not supported by Puglisi who believes it to be one of a handful of autograph versions.