This painting was created by the Dutch artist in Rome where he lived for 18 years and dates from the early period of his career. It was acquired for Catherine II as part of the Crozat collection in 1772together with a second painting by Bramer — The Conversion of Saul —and was long regarded as a companion piece to it. The works are linked by identical dimensions and the use (not practised in the Netherlands) of slate as a base for the painting. The dark colour of the rock was especially suited to night scenes. Bramer left large parts of the slate uncovered and in his modelling of the figures and objects restricted himself to indicating the areas of light. In this work one can clearly sense the influence of the Italian artist Agostino Tassi who mainly worked as a fresco painter.