Publishing the present picture in 1946 as the work of Piazzetta, Professor Roberto Longhi pointed out its evident relationship with Piazzetta's high altarpiece of the Capella del Sacramento in the church of San Giovanni Battista at Bassano del Grappa (see, for instance, Malavolta, op. cit., pp. 93-5, no. 2.15, illustrated in colour) and suggested that the painter was here inspired by a Caravaggesque prototype, Piazzetta's admiration for Caravaggio being well documented. Pallucchini suggested that the present painting might be earlier than that at Bassano, in opinion with which Mariuz concurs while tentatively suggesting that it might be the work of Bencovich rather than Piazzetta