Luca Giordano (1634-1705)

An early work, datable c.1659-60 when Giordano was at his most Riberesque. The head of the youth is close to that of Apollo in an Apollo and Marsyas known in two versions, in the Museo Nazionale di San Martino and a Neapolitan private collection (O. Ferrari and G. Scavizzi, Luca Giordano, Naples, 1992, I, pp. 269-70, nos. A128-9, and p. 32, colour pl. XVI; II, pp. 533 and 535, figs. 205 and 208, where dated c.1659-60)