Oil on canvas, 169cm by 145cm. Signed: Daniel.Seutter Fecit/1684.
The painting, with its pendant PIC296, was purchased in Rome in 1684 for 60 & 20 crowns, by John, 5th Earl of Exeter (1648-1700), during his second Grand Tour.
The 1688 Burghley Inventory records: ‘North Drawing roome–2 pictures over the doores, a Satyr & Venus sleeping & a Venus & Bacchus done by Daniel of Rome.’
Daniel Seiter was brought up in Vienna, where he was perhaps, also born.
He moved to Venice at a young age and trained with Johann Carl Loth (1632-1698), whose work he copied so closely that it was said to be almost impossible to tell them apart.
He moved to Rome, where he found work in the studio of Carlo Maratta (1625-1713) and where his work became immensely popular.
In 1675 he was commissioned by the Duke of Savoy’s son to decorate the Royal Palace of Turin.
