G.b. Pittoni, "rest On The Flight Into Egypt"

Painting by G. B. Pittoni, from the first half of the 18th century, depicting the Rest on the Flight into Egypt.
The Virgin Mary is at the centre, seated, wrapped in a blue mantle and wearing a red dress; she holds the Christ Child in her arms. Saint Joseph is on the left: elderly, with a white beard, an ochre mantle and a blue tunic, shown in a contemplative attitude. Above, two cherubs can be seen, immersed in a luminous cloud. The figures are soft and gently modelled, illuminated by a warm light coming from above, and the colours are rich and full-bodied, with ample drapery. The frame is highly elaborate, gilded, and richly carved: this too fully reflects the Baroque taste.
The painter was born in Venice in 1687. He came from a family of artists: his uncle Francesco Pittoni was also a painter and was probably his first teacher. Pittoni was trained entirely in the Venetian environment, which at the time was dominated by the great masters of colour: Tiepolo, Piazzetta, Ricci. He developed an elegant, soft and luminous style, characterised by delicate and airy colours, harmonious compositions, idealised and gentle figures, and extensive use of pink and azure tones. He was particularly active in sacred and historical painting, genres in which he enjoyed great international success.

Dimensions:
with frame: 112 × 126 cm
without frame: 91 × 105 cm

Bibliography:
The painting is published in:

• the monograph and complete works “Pittoni” by Franca Zava Boccacci, among the autograph paintings of unknown location, p. 185, fig. 455, CAT 268. Photographic references: Fondazione Giorgio Cini, Venice;

• “Stanze Bolognesi, Collezione Laura”, edited by Daniele Benati (1994);

• G. Fiocco, Exhibition Catalogue, 1942, p. XI, ill.;

• W. Arslan, 1951, note 8 on p. 30.

Exhibition:

• Padua, 1943 (no. 70).