The Holy Family With The Infant Saint John The Baptist – Bolognese School, 17th Century

The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist – Bolognese School, 17th century
Attributable to Francesco Brizio (Bologna, 1574–1623)

Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 94.5 x 74.5 cm (without frame)
Framed dimensions: 119 x 94 cm
Frame: Early 17th-century cassetta frame in carved wood, repainted, with corner coats of arms possibly linked to the Este family (?)
Condition: Generally good condition, with some superficial abrasions

Francesco Brizio, trained in the circle of Ludovico Carracci, stands at a unique crossroads between Bolognese classicism, the last echoes of Mannerism, and a naturalism inherited from the 16th century. His activity as an engraver shaped a taste for formal synthesis, linear tension, and, at times, a near-grotesque expressiveness.

These elements converge in this painting: the monumental composition, typical of the Bolognese school, is enlivened by expressive distortions — particularly in Saint Joseph’s twisted arm and the features of the infant John — suggesting the translation of a painterly model into an engraved visual language.

The work also draws upon The Madonna of the Bowl (Madonna della Scodella) by Correggio (Galleria Nazionale, Parma), especially in the gesture of Saint Joseph reaching for a palm branch. Here, the gesture is reinterpreted with heightened torsion and graphic stylization.

The Virgin’s face, more softly modeled, introduces a naturalistic tone that balances the various stylistic tensions. This work thus reflects a fertile dialogue between the Parmesan heritage and Bolognese tradition, filtered through the dual identity of an artist who was both painter and engraver.