Madonna with Child Saints Anthony Francis Mazzola Bedoli

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Madonna and Child with St. Joseph Adored by St. Anthony of Padua, St. Francis of Assisi and St. John the Evangelist. Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli, 1533

This painting, attributed to Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli and dated to circa 1533, shares notable stylistic affinities with the artist’s early public works in Parma, particularly the Immaculate Conception now preserved in the National Gallery of the city. Executed shortly after Parmigianino’s return to Parma in 1530, the composition exhibits the graceful elongation, refined elegance, and deliberate artificiality that mark Bedoli’s close engagement with Parmigianino’s distinctive Mannerist style.

The scene depicts the Madonna and Child with Saint Joseph, surrounded by saints in adoration. Here, the Christ Child is shown with his arms outstretched, a gesture that clearly alludes to the Crucifixion, encouraging the viewer to contemplate both his infancy and his future sacrifice. The pose is strikingly still, almost sculptural, as are the gestures and expressions of the surrounding figures. Their features are serene yet inscrutable, and their carefully arranged postures resemble classical statuary, standing in intriguing contrast to the quiet pastoral landscape behind them.

Saint Francis of Assisi kneels in reverence, his hands open in a posture of admiration and humble awe. Beside him, Saint Anthony of Padua leans gently toward the Child, his hand placed upon his chest as if moved by deep inner devotion. Saint John the Evangelist watches with contemplative reserve, forming with the others a meditative circle of veneration. A few animals can be seen in the background, helping situate the scene in a familiar rural environment reminiscent of contemporary life, grounding the divine encounter within an everyday setting.

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.