BERNARDINO LICINIO (Venice c. 1489-after 1565)

We are grateful to Prof. Peter Humfrey for tentatively suggesting an attribution to Licinio on the basis of transparencies (verbal communication, 15 November 2000), and to Mr. Everett Fahy for also suggesting the attribution to Licinio having examined the painting in person. An early work by the artist, dated to circa 1520-1525 by Mr. Fahy, the painting shows the influence on the young Licinio of Titian's pictures from the second decade of the sixteenth century. In the last century the painting was given by Professor William Suida to Palma il Vecchio (certificate dated 18 December 1932), an attribution that was more recently rejected by Dr. Philip Rylands. On the basis of transparencies, Mrs. Luisa Vertova has expressed reservations about the attribution to Licinio (private communication, 3 December 2000).

It is possible that the two saints in the composition may be portraits of the donors.