The Virgin and Child with adoring Angels in a river Landscape

The present work draws on Elsheimer's Apollo and Coronis of circa 1607-8 formerly in the collection of Lord Methuen at Corsham Court, and now in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool. While the figures in that painting have been replaced in the present work by the Holy Family and Angels, the landscape is faithfully reproduced. Keith Andrews, in his monograph on the artist, notes that the Apollo and Coronis was among Elsheimer's most popular and frequently copied compositions. He lists six versions but makes no mention of any with such significant variation of subject matter (see K. Andrews, Adam Elsheimer, 1977, p. 151, no. 21, pl. 76). Among those cited is that formerly in the collection of Sir Harford Jones-Brydges, sold Sotheby's, London, July 8, 1987, lot 73 (20,000=$32,200).