Lombard School Of The 17th Century, Praying Madonna

Lombard school of the 17th century
Praying Madonna
Oil on canvas, 95 x 75 cm

Depicted in this painting is the Virgin Mary kneeling in prayer surrounded by an aura of divine light. The work presents stylistic elements that place it within the Lombard School of the 17th century, with particular references to the manner of Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli, known as Morazzone (1573-1626).
Seventeenth-century Lombard painting stands out for its intense emotional drama and profound adherence to the dictates of the Counter-Reformation, which placed the emphasis on devotion and meditation. This current, influenced by the teachings of Saint Charles and Frederick Borromeo, aimed at a representation that was both realistic and spiritually elevated.
Lombard painters of this period (such as Morazzone, Cerano and Giulio Cesare Procaccini, often referred to as the trio of Plague Painters) combine a legacy of Mannerism (visible in the dynamic composition and changing colours) with a nascent naturalistic and baroque sensitivity. Powerful and sometimes "dark" lighting effects are sought which create an atmosphere of mystical fervor and emotional torment while the colors are often rich and deep, used to enhance the drama of the scene, in contrast with the shadows.
The work can be considered an example of the diffusion and reworking of Morazzone's compositional and stylistic ideas within the Lombard school of the early seventeenth century, a period in which sacred painting reached heights of intense emotional and spiritual involvement.
The use of strong, almost angular folds, which define the volume in an energetic way (as can be seen in the red, blue and yellow robes), is a distinctive stylistic characteristic of Morazzone, mindful of his Roman experiences (such as those of Ventura Salimbeni and Giuseppe Cesari, known as the Cavalier d'Arpino).