Introduzione

The present painting comes very close to the work of Gaetano's elder brother Ubaldo but the more nervous brushwork along with the use of a darker outline to the flesh tones suggests the work of the younger brother. Saint Augustine can be compared, for example, to Gaetano's San Pellegrino dei Laziosi, now in a private collection, Milan. 

An 18th Century inscription on the stretcher Parte/ del muro/***/ disopra ('part of the wall *** above') would suggest that this picture may have formed part of a decorative scheme, which would also explain its remarkable state of preservation.

fonte:www.bonhams.com