It was since 1936, when the work was sold at a Doroteum auction, that the traces of this extraordinary painting by the young Fetti had been lost. As already suggested by Eduard Safarik (1990 and 2009) and confirmed by MIchele Danieli on the basis of the most recent studies, the work dates back to the end of his stay in Rome. An important recovery that shows the great painter's talent. PROVENANCE: Vienna, Alfred Scharf Collection (until at least 1933); Vienna, Dorotheum, 27-29 February 1936, lot 9 (as The adolescent Esau); Vienna, collection of Eng. Herbert R. Spatschek (2009) to his heirs and descendats (?); Vienna, Kinsky Auctions, 19 June 2024, lot 3030; Rome, private collection.
LITERATURE: E. A. SAFARIK, Fetti. L'opera completa, Milano 1990, pp. 243, cat. n. 107; B. CILIENTO, E. GIFFI PONZI, Dominicus Fettus fecit Romae 1611, in “Bollettino d’Arte”, LXXVII, 71, 1992, p. 129; G. MILANTONI, Fetti, Domenico, in Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, XLVII, Roma 1997, p. 307.
