PROVENANCE: Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence, until the mid-19th century (?); Panciatichi collection, Florence, until 1902; Havemeyer Collection, New York, until 1927; Julius Weitzner, New York, from c. 1952 to 1958; BJU, 1959.

Traditionally, art critics have labelled this painting “The Meeting of Abraham and Melchisidek.” However, internal evidence suggests the New Testament story of Ananias and Saul. For one thing, the Holy Spirit, who is absent from stories of Abraham, is present here in the form of a dove. Saul is in the armor of conquest, he appears to be blind, and Ananias seems to be healing him. The servants wait with an ewer of water and food, seeming to illustrate Acts 9:18-19: “And [Saul] arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.”

Poppi’s work so closely resembles his master Vasari’s that their paintings are often confused. This pristine panel displays the pastel colors and classical architectural background characteristic of the Vasarian/Florentine style.