STEPHAN KESSLER (Donauwörth, 1622 - Brixen, 1700) Solomon and the Queen of Sheba Oil on canvas, 148X206 cm Provenance: Vienna, Dorotheum, 18 December 2019, lot 172 Milan, private collection Bibliography: J. Tylicki, Królowa Saby przed Salomonem ; nieznane malowidlo Stephana Kesslera w Muzeum Narodowym w Warszawie, in Sztuka i Kultura tom 5, 2017/2018, pp. 53-60, fig. 9 Datable to the middle of the fifth decade, the work was traced back to Stephan Kessler's catalogue by Jacek Tylicki, who recognises the typical features of the artist, which can also be seen in the painting Summer (1649) in the Diocesan Museum in Brixen (cf. L. Andergassen, H. Stampfer, 2005, pp. 220, 222, cat. no. and ill. 71). Born in Donauwörth in Bavaria and educated in his father's workshop, Kessler is documented in Brixen in 1643, where he achieved considerable success. While the influences of German and Dutch art are evident in his early creations, during his maturity the fascination of Rubensian painting is evident, with its sumptuous depiction of complex historical scenes, particularly the fabrics and garments of the protagonists. This propensity is evident when observing the canvas under scrutiny, which is compared with the one in the National Museum in Warsaw (inv. no. M. Ob.1030). Reference bibliography: L. Andergassen, H. Stampfer (eds.), Stephan Kessler 1622-1700. Ein Tiroler Maler der Rubenszeit, exhibition catalogue, Brixen 2005, ad vocem