Virgin In Prayer – Italian School, Marche Region, 17th Century

Oil on panel. Italian school, Marches region, second half of the 17th century after Sassoferrato.
Our composition is based on the very famous Virgin in prayer by Giovanni Battista Salvi known as Sassoferrato (Sassoferato 1609 – Rome 1685), of which we know many versions, notably the one kept at the National Gallery in London which has a framing similar to ours. With great audacity, our painter fulfills the original style to offer us a completely new vision. His way of playing with color and light makes his Virgin radiate an ineffable sweetness with her baby-like face, whose features are lost in a sfumato painting. These techniques are reminiscent of the work of the genius of Urbino Federico Barocci (Urbino 1535 – Id. 1612). And if we were not familiar with Sassoferrato's work, we would be tempted to classify this devotional painting as the work of an artist from Federico Barocci's entourage.
In conclusion, as a true homage to the two "marchigiani" artists, our painter has subtly borrowed the art of each of them to renew an iconic work.

Our painting is elegantly set in a French carved and gilded wooden frame from the Louis XIV period.
Dimensions: 34 x 25.5 cm – 45 x 37 cm with the frame
Sold with invoice and certificate of expertise