Francesco Solimena was one of a family of painters and draughtsman. A prolific artist he dominated Neapolitan painting in the first half of the 18thcentury and won admiration for his art throughout Europe. The influence of Luca Giordano can be seen in a dramatic handling of light and shade. In this work Solimena emphasised his dignity and fame as a painter whose paintings were prized by the most distinguished princely patrons.
