Oil painting on canvas

56 x 68 cm.

in frame 72 x 85 cm.

We present this splendid work that depicts the episode, taken from the Old Testament, of the meeting of the Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the little Saint John.

Saint Joseph, in the background, is between Saint Elizabeth, sitting on the ground, and the Madonna. The two hold their respective children on their knees, San Giovannino and Jesus playing with a scroll from which you can glimpse the inscription "Ecce Agnus Dei", evoking the words with which John the Baptist, as an adult, will address Christ, recognizing in him the awaited Messiah, the savior of men.

The setting is simple but eloquent, intrinsic with solemnity but softened by the strong sentimental understanding between the characters, underlined by their crossed gazes full of great humanity.

The arrangement of the figures also emphasizes their intimate relationship, with the Madonna supporting the Child Jesus balanced by the presence of the other characters, arranged concentrically to enhance the importance of each.

There is a strong search for delicate formal correspondences, in the rhythm of the stroke and curves, as well as the psychological ones; in fact, looks and gestures are wisely intertwined, in a highly studied complex but with an extremely simple and natural effect, with a serene and calm tone.

Also of great effect is the attention paid to the landscape in the background, in which views of the city and various landscape views appear, rich in detail, with hills, perched villages and architectural ruins, which evoke the area surrounding Rome.

The work takes up a composition conceived, during his long stay in Rome, by Nicolas Poussin (Les Andelys 1594 - Rome 1665) *, and is an excellent example of how the author was able to amalgamate and merge the ideal of French classicism with characters drawn from the Italian Renaissance, inspired by Raphael.

* 'La Sainte Famille avec saint Jean et sainte Élisabeth dans un paysage' - Nicolas Poussin, around 1650, (Musée du Louvre): https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010062512

Although it is not easy to formulate a precise attribution, considering the extremely prolific and heterogeneous cultural environment, however, for what can be deduced by observing the painting and its excellent quality, we can hypothesize its realization in the Eternal City around the second half of the century , by one of the many artists who certainly knew and came into contact with the works of Poussin.

The work, like all our objects, is sold accompanied by a photographic expertise with descriptive card;

We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

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