Madonna and Child

Oil on canvas

98 x 75 cm

Framed 110 x 86 cm

We present this splendid Florentine work, an image of the Virgin holding the blessing Child in her arms, portrayed standing on a refined cushion edged with gold.

Radiating an intense divine luminosity, the little son of God, himself a source of light, is depicted as an infant with a fair complexion and thick, slightly curly blond hair. Full of tenderness and maternal love, the figure of the Madonna, with her perfect features and smooth skin, looks towards the viewer.

The high quality of the figures is also masterfully emphasised in the rendering of the fabrics, predominantly orchestrated with precious effects rich in enamel, alternating mostly between lapis lazuli blue and the most iridescent red.

From the point of view of pictorial authorship, both in terms of technique and stylistic rendering, the painting can be attributed to a Tuscan artist strongly influenced by the Florentine Alessandro Allori (Florence 1535 - 1607).

Trained in the workshop of Agnolo di Cosimo, where he perfected his drawing and study of human anatomy, Allori completed his apprenticeship in Rome, remaining strongly influenced by the style of the great masters of Mannerism. After returning to Florence, the artist was appointed official painter to the Medici court and, in order to meet the ever-increasing number of commissions, he set up his own workshop.

In fact, the work presented here can probably be attributed to the circle of Alessandro Allori's pupils: it could be linked to his son and collaborator Cristofano Allori (Florence 1577 - 1621), who, like his father, was connected to the Florentine academic tradition.

The attention to both the meticulous description of details and the naturalistic rendering of the subjects are elements that highlight how this painting has close similarities with many works by Allori: as can be seen in our canvas, the painter emphasises the beauty of the Virgin, interpreted as an ethereal woman, characterised by the whiteness of her complexion, highlighted by the monochrome black background, which at the same time does not result in affectation, but is instead connoted by a strong character.

This representative style is continued throughout his career, which is marked by a large number of portrait commissions. Compare some details of our work with Cristofano Allori's self-portrait, preserved in the Uffizi Palace (Vasari Corridor, Florence). Note in particular the features with the same inclination of the face and the same expressive sweetness that we find in the Madonna (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Self-portrait_by_Alessandro_Allori.jpg).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with an attractive frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic card.

We take care of and organise the transport of purchased works, both in Italy and abroad, using professional and insured carriers.

If you would like to see this or other works in person, we would be delighted to welcome you to our new gallery in Riva del Garda, at Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We look forward to seeing you!

Please contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to assist you.

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