Madonna and Child with Saint Francis by Bernardino Licinio

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Madonna and Child with Saint Francis. Bernardino Licinio, 1540

Bernardino Licinio was born in Venice to a Lombard family and trained in the workshop of Giovanni Bellini, yet he preserved the naturalistic and understated realism characteristic of Lombard painting. For centuries, Licinio’s work was obscured due to confusion by major art historians such as Giorgio Vasari and Carlo Ridolfi, who attributed many of his paintings to Pordenone, Titian’s well-known rival in Venice during the 1530s. Only in the early twentieth century did scholarship begin to distinguish and restore Licinio’s own identity and artistic contribution.

In this work, the Blessed Virgin Mary holds the Christ Child, who extends two small fingers in a gesture of blessing toward Saint Francis of Assisi. The saint kneels to receive this blessing, holding a crucifix gently in his right hand. The Virgin’s expression is calm and somewhat introspective, her posture relaxed, with a subtle slouch that conveys both stillness and humanity. Her vivid red dress introduces a warm note that contrasts softly against the otherwise muted tonal palette. Saint Francis, in contrast, appears humble and contemplative, entirely absorbed in the miracle before him.

Although the painting today presents a predominately grey, subdued harmony of tones, this does not necessarily reflect the original appearance. Many works from the sixteenth century have lost saturation due to the natural aging of pigments, varnish discoloration, and environmental exposure over centuries. In particular, certain organic reds and blues were prone to fading, while varnishes often yellow or become opaque with time, dulling the surface. It is also possible that Licinio intentionally worked within a restrained palette, in keeping with Lombard sobriety and devotional subject matter. The result—whether original or aged—is a gentle and unified chromatic field where the warmth of the Virgin’s dress and the tender exchange between Child and saint stand out with quiet, luminous clarity.

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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.