Jonathan Richardson, the younger, London (1694-1771), L.2170 and L.2997; possibly his estate sale, Langford & Son (London), 5 February - 12 February 1772, any one of eight lots including Rottenhammer; Charles Fairfax Murray, London (1849-1919); possibly his estate sale, Christie's (London), 30 January 1920, lot 118 (if identified then as 'Diana and Actaeon', with 9 others); purchased there by Brall (Louis Brall & Sons?) (£16.8); F.R. Meatyard (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), n.d. (£1.55, as 'Mythological Subject'); Witt Bequest 1952

Watermark: Watermarks: Backing sheet (?): upper centre: winged shield containing a five-petaled flower on a wide stem (not found in Heawood).

Inscription: Verso (backing sheet): upper centre, brown ink, Richardson the younger’s hand: “Tunc ille Aneas, quem Dardanio Anchisa / Alma Venus Phrygÿ genuit Simoëntis ad undam? Virg. An. 1. 621. / See above all Homer’s exquisite + Long Hymn to Venus, where this Subject is painted at Large; + is the Richest + most Genteel / Antique Picture extant in Poetry; + where is represented that very Early Magnificence of Dress, to adorn the most Exquisite / Beauties of Greek Elegance that ever Poet or Painter treates the Eye, that can See with. The nimbus round the Goddesses Head is / truly Antique; also the present Author Seems to have known Nothing of This Original Master=Stile. / For it is not by any means Every Eye that Can See. My Dear Late Father said, “Those Few who had a Taste for the Vertù; who / were Capable of Seeing the Beauties of Nature had a Sense More than the rest of the World.” Indeed such are / a Glass which a Fine Object passes over, without, ItSelf, being Sensible of It; or Him who, in Paradise, Saw Undelighted all Delights! / Nos etiam oculos habemos eruditos, says Cicero to Atticus, in a Letter in which He desired Him to purchase some Antique Sta: / :tues of Great Men to adorn his Tusculan Library. Atticus was then at Athens. //”.

Collector's mark: Recto: lower right edge, stamped in black ink: Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2170). Verso (backing sheet): upper centre, pen and brown ink, full transcribed above: Jonathan Richardson, the younger (L.2997).