Giovanni Battista Ramenghi called il Bagnacavallo Junior

Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Gentleman"), London, Christie's, 30 November 1973, lot 49, for £3,000, 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 poplar panel has two vertical joins (three planks), these have been reinforced, and there are two horizontal bracing bars. Some slight worm damage can be detected. The joins are unstable and there is insecure paint along them. The paint layer, generally, is unstable and raised with recent losses and blisters. Restoration to replace these losses is evident but generally it is excessive and unsubtle. There are areas in a good original and untouched condition to be seen, however. The discoloured varnish masks the true tonality of the image. Offered in a modern gold and black painted frame in good condition."
"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 composition is based, with numerous differences, on a design by Raphael, a workshop copy of which is in Vienna, Albertina (see J.Meyer Zur Capellen, Raphael, vol. II, Münster 2003, pp. 247-8, no. A8). Among the many alterations, the artist has here changed the physiognomies of the characters markedly, along with the positioning of St. Elizabeth, and he has added the figures of St. Joseph and the other male in the background.