This painting from Richard Neumann's collection recently resurfaced, when the present owner, who had received it as an inheritance, approached Sotheby's London to sell it at auction. Sotheby's notified Dr. Neumann's heirs that they believed the painting in question matched the work listed on the Neumann's inventory of assets in 1938. Further research indicated that Dr. Neumann had purchased the painting in 1918 and that it had remained with him when he and Alice had fled to Paris. After World War II he was able to locate a few of the paintings he had entrusted to friends and gallerists and had them sent to New York. There is no evidence, however, that this work was among that group, nor that Dr. Neumann had sold it after the war. His heirs were able to reach a financial settlement with the owner and "Monks at Mealtime" was shipped directly from London to Worcester so that it could be included in the exhibition.

Alessandro Magnasco
circa 1700 - 1725