The Adoration of the Shepherds

We are grateful to Dottore Gino D'Alessio for confirming, on the basis of a transparency, that the present picture is an autograph version of the high altarpiece of the monastery of S. Maria di Betlemme at Naples, executed by De Mura between September 1749 and August 1750. He suggests that it may be the bozzetto for the altarpiece listed in the Fischetti Bardellino inventory as no. 75 'Un quadro di palmi 4 x 7¼ [= 105.6 x 191.4cm.] rappresentante la Nascita, macchia del quadro che si trova nel monistero di Bethelemme, ducati 120'. Seven other versions are known, none of which is accepted as autograph by Dr. D'Alessio.