Unknown

Baroque neapolitan school, Madonna and Child

1700

Neapolitan caravagist artist, 17th century SAINT THOMAS APOSTOLE oil on canvas, cm 127x101 (The painting is part of a triptych together with the two holy apostles Saint James the Mi...

French impressionist artist, marina with ship. The painting is an oil on panel of 28x38 cm, by an important French impressionist artist. The ma...

Mocking of Christ, with all around in grisaille: the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, God the Father, Mankind after the Fall,; in the corners the four evangelists. J. Dijkstra ao, cat. The paintings of Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht (Museum Catharijneconvent) 2002, p. 196, pict., as Frans Francken...

This exquisite painting, resembling a precious jewel, serves as an exceptional illustration of the devotional cabinet paintings created by Giuseppe Maria Crespi, a highly original Bolognese artist during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Crespi's distinctiveness extended beyond his unique style and technique to the subjects he chose to portray. While his portraits and genre paintings often displayed a light-hearted and even irreverent tone, his treatment of religious themes resonated with deep emotion, even in its most inventive forms. This recently uncovered work by Crespi is a typical representation, invoking the tender connection between mother and child, and the Child's destiny, all within a compact and intimate format. Executed on a small scale, the painting showcases Crespi's remarkable sensitivity and mastery of paint, especially evident in the expressive brushwork of the drapery. The restrained and focused composition of the Holy Family allows for contemplation of the figures. Mary cradles the Christ child gently, seemingly presenting him to the viewer, her gaze knowing as the infant holds a diminutive cross, symbolizing his future crucifixion. Joseph appears in the background, emerging from the left side of the frame, gazing upward with folded hands in prayer. Individual motifs from this painting reappear in other works by Crespi, suggesting a synthesis of familiar elements into a vibrant composition. The artist's revisitation of designs throughout his career is evident, and this painting on copper likely belongs to a later period, reflecting stylistic ties to other works and Crespi's increased production of smaller devotional pieces. Distinguished by its cool palette, bold coloration, and the expressive force of the artist's hand, this Holy Family painting...