The Drunkeness of Pan

In a letter dated April 15, 1991, Renato Roli states that, based on photographs, he believes the present painting to be a youthful work by Marcantonio Franceschini while he was under the influence of Carlo Cignani (1628-1719). He further suggests that Cignani may have painted the crown of roses on the nymph, and that the landscape may be by Luigi Quaini (1627-1696). A preparatory drawing for the present painting dateable to circa 1676-8, is in the Uffizi, Florence (see D.C. Miller, Some Unpublished Drawings by Marcantonio Franceschini and A Proposed Chronology, Master Drawings, IX, 1971, p. 124, no. 2, illus. pl. 2; and Fig. 1 in this catalogue).