Circle of Giovanni Battista Ramenghi, Holy Family, 1620, Oil on Canvas, Framed

Details

Description

Bolognese School, early 17th century

Circle of Giovanni Battista Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo (Bologna, 1521 – 1601)

Holy Family with … Read more Bolognese School, early 17th century

Circle of Giovanni Battista Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo (Bologna, 1521 – 1601)

Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

Oil on canvas (86 x 72 cm - with antique frame 107 x 93 cm)

This interesting painting depicts one of the most widespread iconographic subjects in Christian tradition. It is presented here according to an ancient and time-tested scheme that places the Virgin in prayer and the sleeping Child at the center of a tender devotional scene. This is complemented by the presence of Saint Joseph, on the right, placidly leaning on his staff.

Enriching this canonical Holy Family is the infant Saint John the Baptist, appearing on the right, as if addressing the viewer directly, motioning for silence with his hands so as not to disturb the sleeping child and inviting him to contemplate the scene with devotion.

Regarding the stylistic characteristics of our canvas, it is easy to discern the predominant influences of Bolognese painting, particularly the relationship with the works of one of the greatest artists of the late 16th century, Giovan Battista Ramenghi.
The solid and clear volumes, the facial features, the geometrically emphasized draperies, and the eloquent gestures of the figures, as well as the clear spatial layout, certainly allow us to approach the execution of the work with his pictorial style. However, an analytical look at the more concise solutions in the rendering of the figures leads us more prudently to consider the canvas a valid work by an artist from his circle, dating to the early 17th century.

The painting presents one of the favorite themes of the Bolognese painter, or more likely of his patrons, and one frequently revisited by his workshop, albeit with ever-changing compositional inventiveness. In our version, we can detect all the elements that contributed to defining its formal culture: from the classicism underlying the monumental balance of the group, a Bolognese legacy, to the obvious reference to Raphael in the figure of Saint Joseph, to the refinement of the Tuscan-Roman Mannerism that inspired the colors.

The excellent state of preservation allows us to view this splendid scene, capturing all its pictorial and chromatic peculiarities, with the pleasant and uniform craquelure that characterizes the entire surface.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is sold with a beautiful frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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