Troger painted the theme of the Agony in the Garden several times; an altarpiece datable c. 1750 is in the Barockmuseum de Osterreichischen Galerie, Vienna, and an earlier version, datable c. 1728-30, is in the Benediktinerer Zabetei St. Peter, Salzburg. The present picture, possibly a study, differs from the two finished versions in several respects, most notably in the position of the angel's right arm.

The strong influence of Piazzetta would suggest an early date for the present picture, probably before Troger's return to Salzburg from Italy. A lost painting of this subject, mentioned in the artist's obituary, is recorded as having been executed while the artist was in Bologna.

The attribution has been confirmed by Dr. Wolfgang Prohaska and Dr. Bernard Aikema