Pittore Leonardesco, Madonna and Child Leonardo-Esque, 1520, Oil on Canvas

Details

Description

Leonardo-esque painter, early 16th century
Attributable to Bernardino de Conti (Castelseprio, 1470 – Pavia, 1523)

Madonna and Child

Oil on … Read more Leonardo-esque painter, early 16th century
Attributable to Bernardino de Conti (Castelseprio, 1470 – Pavia, 1523)

Madonna and Child

Oil on canvas
45 x 34 cm. - Framed 71 x 57 cm.

(Old provenance labels on the back: Castelli Zerli Arnaldo family)

The exquisite Madonna and Child presented here, dating to around the early 16th century, is traditionally attributed to the Leonardo-esque painter Bernardino de' Conti (Castelseprio, 1470 – Pavia, 1523), one of the protagonists of the most glorious period of the Lombard Renaissance, famous above all as the official portraitist of the Sforza court in Milan.

His style represents a fascinating meeting point between the solid classical Lombard tradition (represented by Vincenzo Foppa) and the revolutionary innovations brought to Milan by Leonardo da Vinci.

Returning to our Madonna and Child, we see the most beloved and widespread compositional structure of the Lombard Renaissance, which emphasizes the affectionate bond between the Virgin, portrayed with half-closed eyes and a serene expression, and her child, held in her lap with extreme tenderness as he reaches out with a lively gesture.

The gentle features and soft chiaroscuro reflect the teachings of Leonardo da Vinci in the Lombard school of the sixteenth century.

We then see the well-balanced use of the sfumato technique, invented by Leonardo, with the typical soft transition between one color and another, eliminating sharp edges to define the edges: by blurring the corners of the mouth and eyes, the faces become mysterious and seem as if they are about to change expression at any moment.

Mary's face reflects an intimate and melancholic suffering, a characteristic drawn directly from Leonardo's studies of the "motions of the soul" and human expressiveness. Leonardo's softness combines with a strong plasticity and sharp details, influenced by both Flemish painting and Northern Italian classicism.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is presented in an elegant, gilded and carved wooden frame in Renaissance style, not antique.

The work is sold 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



issues arising from misattribution See less