Gregorio Preti, 1603 Taverna, Catanzaro – 1672... Lot n° 331

Brother of Mattia Preti (1613 - 1699).JESUS IN FRONT OF PETRUS HOLDING THE FISH WITH THE SILVER Piece Oil on canvas. 97 x 135 cm. Unframed. The scene illustrates the text from the Gospel of Matthew (17, 24-27), which deals with the issue of the temple tax, which Peter is here to collect. According to the legend, Jesus asked Peter to fish a fish and would find the coin for the temple tax in it. The scene is rendered in accentuated caravaggesque chiaroscuro, with the two main figures placed in the left half of the picture. On the right a youthful man with turban in front of an open folio, obviously with tax list, behind it a harnischter mercenary. Two other persons from the circle of the apostles flank the figure of Jesus. The painting was - according to the old frame label - already considered a work of Mattia Preti, with whose work the painting style actually shows great similarity. (13306218) (10) Gregorio Preti, 1603 Taverna, Catanzaro - 1672 Rome, attributed Brother of Mattia Preti (1613 - 1699). SAINT PETER AND JESUS WITH THE SILVER COIN IN THE FISH'S MOUTH Oil on canvas. 97 x 135 cm..