19th Century Italian “Madonna of the Harpies” Oil Painting After Del Sarto

Details

Description

This impressive antique religious painting was crafted in Italy circa 1850 and is a large oil on canvas after Andrea … Read more This impressive antique religious painting was crafted in Italy circa 1850 and is a large oil on canvas after Andrea del Sarto’s celebrated Renaissance masterpiece Madonna of the Harpies. The composition centers on the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, flanked by Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Francis, with two putti gathered around the pedestal below.

The painting closely follows del Sarto’s original altarpiece, completed in 1517 for the convent of San Francesco dei Macci in Florence and now in the Uffizi Gallery. The unusual pedestal beneath the Virgin is decorated with sculptural figures traditionally identified as harpies, giving the work its familiar title. The Latin inscription and date on the pedestal further reference the Renaissance prototype.

Executed on a substantial scale, the work displays a restrained, devotional atmosphere with strong contrasts between the luminous flesh tones, the Virgin’s coral, blue, and gold drapery, and the darker architectural background. The figures are modeled with particular attention to expression, gesture, and the softly falling folds of the garments.

Andrea del Sarto (1486–1530) was one of the leading painters of the Florentine High Renaissance, admired for his balanced compositions, refined draftsmanship, and exceptionally harmonious use of color.

The antique canvas is presented in a substantial carved giltwood frame enriched with leaf, beaded, and finely reeded ornament. The painting is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use.

Dimensions: 54" W x 67.5" H. See less