Francesco de Mura

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 25 May 2000, lot 137 (as Attributed to Paolo de Maio);
Anonymous sale, Olympia, Sotheby's, 4 July 2006, lot 490 (as Attributed to Paolo de Maio). 

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The original canvas is lined and the paint layer is flat with well preserved paint texture. There is a restored paint loss in the lower right hand corner through the body of the putto and extending left into the legs of the seated shepherd. The restoration is imprecise and excessive. Apart from one or two retouchings elsewhere the painting is in a good original and well preserved condition. The varnish is moderately discoloured and its removal would improve the tonality. Offered in a gilt wood 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."

According to Prof. Nicola Spinosa, who knows this painting from photographs, the invention of the composition is probably Francesco Solimena's although the execution of this work would suggest that this was painted by Francesco de Mura, who was a pupil in Solimena's studio in the middle of the 18th century.