Lot 2068 Dα

This painting has only recently been rediscovered. Until now, the painting was considered a work of the French school. The piece was attributed to the Augsburg history painter due in part to its style and also to the use of his characteristic type of female figures. There is evidence of another compositionally related version of the same subject in the Count von Schönborn's art collection in Weissenstein Castle, Pommersfelden, which has been housed there since 1721 (see Peter Königfeld: Der Maler Johann Heiss, Weissenhorn 2001, cat. no. A 53). While the latter is almost square in format (128 x 126 cm), the present version is in landscape format (124 x 154 cm), which offers more scope for the artist's narrative talent.

Peter Königfeld will include the painting in his newly edited catalogue raisonné of Johann Heiss. He has written a detailed document on the painting.