Artist and Date

The painting is attributed to Sandro Botticelli, an Italian artist, and is dated between 1480 and 1490.

Medium and Dimensions

The painting is executed in tempera on a poplar panel, with a diameter of 58.9 cm (23 3/16 in).

Provenance

The painting has a well-documented provenance. It was originally owned by Charles Paravey in Paris and was sold at Hôtel Drouot in 1878, attributed to Filippo Lippi. It later passed to Paravey's daughter, Mme Raynaud, and was sold again in 1929. The painting was acquired by Wildenstein & Co., Inc., in New York and then sold to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation in October 1947. It was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in 1952.

Symbolism and Style

The painting features subtle symbolism characteristic of Botticelli's work. For example, the arch at the bottom of the picture opens into a cave or abyss, symbolizing death or sin, over which Christ triumphs. A duck depicted on the water is thought to symbolize reverence or adoration.

Exhibition History

The painting has been exhibited in several notable exhibitions, including 'Italian Paintings of the XIV to XVI Century' at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1933, 'A Century of Progress' at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1933, and 'Masterpieces of Art' at the New York World's Fair in 1939.

Attribution

While the painting is widely attributed to Botticelli, there have been some discussions about the possibility of collaboration with other artists. Some scholars suggest that the landscape might have been painted by a collaborator close to Jacopo del Sellaio.

Current Location

The painting is currently housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.