Cupid Chastised

Commissioned by Agostino Chigi (died 1644), Siena, through the agency of Giulio Mancini in March 1613; painting completed by October 1613 [see Wazbinski, 1996]; by descent in the Chigi family, Siena and Rome [recorded in 1644 Chigi inventory: "Un quadro con cornici di noce di alto braccia due 3/4 large braccia due rappresenta un soldato [Mars] che spezza [Amour] presente Venere, la quale cerca difenderlo, opera di Bartolomeo Manfredi Milanese scudi cento 100," see Archivio Chigi Armadio CCCLI]; by descent to Fabio Chigi, later Pope Alexander VII (died 1667), Rome [recorded in 1657 Chigi inventory, no. 57, “Un quadro dipinto di un Marte che spezza Amore e Venere che finge tenerlo [illegible] con strata alto p[a]lmi 7 incirca largo 5 1/2 incirca di Bartolomeo Manfredi con cornice dorata liscia,” see Archivio Chigi Armadio CCCLXXXI]; by descent to his nephew, Agostino Chigi III, Rome (died 1705) [Moir, 1985]; by descent to Prince Ludovico Chigi Albani della Rovere (1866-1951), Palazzo Chigi, Rome until at least 1917; the painting was probably moved to Ludovico Chigi's residence in Ariccia, near Rome, 1917, when the palazzo became property of the Italian government [according to c. 1983 draft of Moir article in Museum studies 1985, copy in curatorial file]. Armando Brasini (1879-1965), Rome, by c. 1935 [according to Carlo Sestieri’s letter, October 3, 1988, in curatorial file stating that he saw it there when he was 13]; Wildenstein and Company, New York and Paris, by 1938 [Voss 1938, p. 30 and Moir 1985]; sold by Wildenstein to Charles H. Worcester, Chicago, 1939 [letters from Wildenstein to Worcester, Nov. 16 and 21, 1939, in curatorial file]; lent to the Art Institute from 1939; given to the Art Institute, 1947.