Lazarus at the Feast of Dives

We are grateful to Professor W.R. Rearick for the attribution and his assistance in cataloguing this lot (letter, dated 3 February 1994). He points out that the picture is of a familiar compositional format for Lazarus at the Feast of Dives as conceived by the Bassano and their studio. The composition was drawn originally by Leandro (black chalk, British Museum), who painted several versions (Prado, Madrid; Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, etc.). It then passed on to both his workshop in Venice and the home workshop in Bassano where Gerolamo painted several replicas. Professor Rearick considers the present picture to be by Gerolamo 'although it is better than most of his work' and he dates it to circa 1584, when he assumed the responsibilities of Leandro, who transferred to Venice. An early version of this composition by Jacopo Bassano was sold in these Rooms, 17 December 1999, lot 43 (£115,000).