(Mauerkirchen 1679–1748 Rome)
Diana’s nymphs disarming sleeping cupids,
oil on canvas, 122 x 172 cm, framed

Provenance:
art market, Italy;
where acquired by the present owner

We are grateful to Alberto Crispo for suggesting the attribution of the present painting.

The present painting relates to an inverted composition by Francesco Albani in the Louvre, Paris (inv. nos. 12, MR 16).

Ignaz Stern – also known as Ignazio Stern or Ignazio Stella – was a German-born Baroque painter who gained acclaim in Italy, becoming a notable figure in the artistic circles of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Born around 1679 in either Eggenburg or Mauerkirchen, now part of Austria, Stern initially trained in his homeland before relocating to Italy, where he spent the majority of his career.

The artist was primarily active between Romagna and Rome, where he resided for two extended periods: from 1701 to 1713, and again from 1724 to 1748. After establishing himself in Rome, Stern’s reputation flourished, leading to commissions from various Italian cities, including Bologna and Piacenza. His style strongly reflects the influence of Italian Baroque, particularly drawing inspiration from the works of Pietro da Cortona and Carlo Maratta, under whom he may have studied during his time in Rome.

In this elegant canvas, as well as in the following lot, Stern revisits compositions originally created by Francesco Albani, now conserved in the Louvre (inv. nos. 12, MR 16 and 11, MR 15), though in reverse, possibly due to the use of prints. Albani’s paintings were part of a series of four canvases commissioned by Duke Federico Gonzaga of Mantua in 1621. These works were met with great success, prompting Albani to produce additional versions, such as those currently in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Bordeaux (inv. no. 5882), the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Kassel (inv. no. L 953) and Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam (inv. no. 4 7723).