An allegory of the Old Testament

The present lot was exhibited at the Bowes Museum in 1962 as one of several existing bozzetti for Giaquinto’s decoration of the Chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo in the Cathedral of Cesena dating from 1750-51, which consists of a cupola and lunettes. A number of other variants exist, some with the addition of decorative flowers and cherubs in the spandrels. Two of three studies, signed and dated 1749, are in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples. Others from the series were in the Jandolo, Villfalletto and Capperoni collections and a group of three is in the Museo Provinciale, Lecce. Although there are compositional differences between the present lot and the other known versions, the possibility that the present picture is a replica or reduction should not be excluded.