Oil on canvas, 70cm by 94cm.
Giovanni Andrea Sirani was a pupil of Guido Reni (1575-1642) and the father of the great Bolognese female artist Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665), for which he is perhaps best known.
She trained in his workshop, which she took over when he became unable to work and from a very young age, until her early death, supported her entire family.
Modern experts have suggested an attribution to Lionello Spada (1576-1622), who was active in his native Bologna and in Rome, where he was a follower of Caravaggio (1571-1610).
