Lot 2056 Dα

Frits J. Duparc, director of the Maurithuis from 1991 to 2008, confirmed the attribution of this painting to Barent Fabritius in an e-mail in September 2011. It was also confirmed by Christopher Brown in 2014. Barent Fabritius came from a family of artists and was the brother of the important painter Carel Fabritius. As can also be observed in his brother's early works, Barent Fabritius displays a certain stylistic proximity to Rembrandt. It can even be suggested that he may have had personal contact to Rembrandt due to known stays in Amsterdam in 1643 and 1647, although this cannot be proven. Alongside his expressive portraits, narrative and mythological motifs, Fabritius also painted numerous biblical scenes such as the present work.