Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist, Saint Romuald, and Franciscan Friar, 16th Century, Oil on Canvas

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Antique oil on canvas applied to panel, devotional painting depicting the Madonna and Child in the presence of Saint John … Read more Antique oil on canvas applied to panel, devotional painting depicting the Madonna and Child in the presence of Saint John the Baptist, Saint Romuald, and the Franciscan friar who commissioned the work. The painting was most likely executed in the first half of the 16th century in central Italy, probably in the Marche region. It would seem that it is a monastic commission of the Franciscan order, given the presence of the little friar on the extreme left depicted of reduced proportion compared to the other sacred figures, an element that connotes an archaizing taste of this painter or dates the painting back to at least the early 1500s. The painter who executed the work was certainly influenced by the Peruginesque manner as can be seen from the softened face of the Virgin, but also in Saint Romuald which is of quality. The figures of Jesus and Saint John the Baptist have a weaker rendering compared to the other characters, perhaps we hypothesize that it was performed by two hands. It is possible that it is a workshop active in the Umbrian-Marche Apennines, probably towards the Marche side near Fabriano, an area particularly devoted to the figure of Saint Romuald or in the upper part of the region given the particular chromatism used, more akin to the painting of the Urbino area. The frame on which the painting is mounted is old but later than the actual era of the execution of the painting. The dimensions of the painting are: 40cm x 55cm - 58.5cm x 75cm the dimensions including frame. The painting shows some old restorations that are concentrated especially on the body of the infant Jesus, while it would seem from the UV lamp that the faces of the Virgin and Saint Romuald have not been touched. We attach a certificate of guarantee to the sale. See less