Holy Family With The Infant Saint John – Bolognese School, Second Half Of The 16th Century

Holy Family with the Infant Saint John – Bolognese School, Second Half of the 16th Century

Oil on wooden panel with two horizontal braces on the reverse
Bolognese School, second half of the 16th century
Panel: H 50 × W 42.5 cm
With frame: H 88 × W 74 cm
19th-century carved, gessoed and gilded wooden frame.

This Holy Family with the Infant Saint John and Saint Joseph belongs to the Bolognese painting tradition of the second half of the 16th century. The composition preserves the harmony inherited from the Renaissance, with a compact arrangement of figures based on compositional schemes that had become established classics in Emilian workshops.

The diagonal pose of the Christ Child, the precision of the drawing and the balanced construction of the group reflect an artistic culture founded on the primacy of drawing and the harmonious organization of forms. The combination of red, ochre and the Virgin’s blue mantle remains deeply rooted in Renaissance tradition, far removed from the more artificial chromatic effects of late Mannerism.

The composition of the group and the pose of the Christ Child find particularly convincing parallels in prototypes developed by Francesco Francia and Bartolomeo Ramenghi, known as Bagnacavallo, and by artists of their circle. Although executed with greater simplicity, this painting demonstrates the enduring influence of these models in Bolognese workshops throughout the 16th century.

The painting is in good overall condition. The panel is composed of several vertical boards and retains two horizontal braces on the reverse. The frame shows age-related wear, old restorations, and minor losses to the gesso and gilding.

For buyers outside Italy, we will obtain the Italian export license (Certificate of Free Circulation) free of charge. The usual processing time is approximately two to four weeks.