Madonna with Child and Saint Francis by Antonio Carracci

 


Madonna with the Child and Saint Francis by Antonio Carracci, oil on copper, 1605.

Carracci was born in the parish of Saint Lucia in Venice, probably in 1583, the product of an affair with a courtesan called Isabella, occurring on his father's first visit to Venice. He first apprenticed with his father, who admired his "Madonna and Child" completed at the age of seventeen.

When his father died in 1602, Antonio moved to Rome to work under his uncle Annibale to whom he developed a deep affection. He likely worked on the frescoes of the Galleria Farnese, on the lunettes for the Palazzo Aldobrandini chapel, and probably in the Herrera Chapel. After his uncle’s passing he received commissions in Rome from Cardinal Tonti and Cardinal Peretti-Montalto, including the ‘’Stanza del Diluvio’’ in the Quirinal Palace, and major altarpieces like ‘’Madonna and Child with Saints’’ (in Berlin) and the Galleria Corsini's ‘’Nativity’’.

Antonio was well known for doing cabinet-size compositions often based on the great variety of graphic material in possession of the Carracci studio. In this work, we see the Blessed Virgin Mary, holding the Holy Child Jesus, as He is adored by Saint Francis of Assisi.

Descending from the upper left corner, an angel descends to offer a branch with three pink peonies. The Virgin Mary takes the cloth off the Child, so Saint Francis can behold Him. The full scene is presented on golden bacground, formed by clouds, which make a throne.

Get this image now on sale




Comments