The present work is a second version of a painting whose original derivation remains unknown. The primary version, which was once in the collection of Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford and after hung at Welbeck Abbey, was sold at Christie's, London, Dec. 11, 1981, lot 54 as Carlo Maratta. Dr. Stella Rudolph, in private correspondence, tentatively attributes that painting to Niccolò Berretoni, one of Carlo Maratta's most able pupils. She believes, however, that this second version may be by another, as yet unidentified, Roman artist of the same period.