Jesus Amongst the Doctors

In the Jerusalem temple the twelve year old Jesus discusses with a number of doctors. They seem impressed by his arguments.

This is a very dynamic painting by Borgianni. In a way it is a mixture of Caravaggio's chiaroscuro and the rich colors of Titian's Venetian School. The effect is that the spectator witnesses a fierce debate.

It was made in Rome, probably in commission of the Spanish diplomat Juan de Lezcano. In 2012 a Dutch private collector, the Broere Foundation, acquired it at an auction for £ 3.4 million. It will be on display in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.