16th Century Paintings

An important 16th-century Italian painting. A tempera-on-panel artwork of remarkable pictorial quality, featuring monumental original carved and gilded woodwork. The altarpiece depic...

Alonso Sánchez Coello (Valencia, 1531 – Madrid, 1588) Workshop of Portrait of a Noblewoman Oil on canvas 100 x 70 cm. - In an antique frame, 120 x 92 cm. This portrait, ric...

Francesco di Girolamo da Santacroce (Venice, 1516–1584) Saint Agatha Oil on canvas 126 x 68 cm. Framed: 137 x 80 cm. The painting depicts Saint Agatha (a companion piece fe...

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 hal...

This striking devotional image, painted by a follower of Jan Gossaert, represents one of the most influential compositions of the Northern Renaissance: Christ on the Cold Stone, or C...

The Nativity of Jesus Flemish school, late 16th/early 17th century Gerard David (Oudewater, c. 1460 - Bruges, 1523) Follower of Oil on copper 30 x 25 cm. - In frame 47 x 42 c...

The Vegetable Seller Circle of Joachim Beuckelaer (Flemish 1534-1574) Oil on cradled oak panel Framed: 35 x 47 inches Canvas: 29 x 41 inches Provenance: Private collection, France. C...

Scipione Pulzone, called Il Gaetano (Gaeta 1544 - Rome 1598) Holy Family with the Young St John The Baptist and St Elizabeth Oil on canvas A Royal Coat of Arms lower left Canvas size...

The Crucifixion, 16th Century PIETER AERTSEN (1507-1575) 16th Century Dutch Old Master of the Crucifixion, oil on panel, by Pieter Aertsen. Large circa 1570 devotional scene of th...

Workshop of Jacopo Palma il Giovane (Venice 1548 – Venice 1628) - The Baptism of Christ. 64 x 49.5 cm. Oil on canvas, unframed (not signed). The composition depicts the Baptism ...

This exquisite early 16th-century Italian panel captures one of Christianity’s most cherished moments - the Adoration of the Magi. Painted around 1530, this panel belongs to a moment...

Flemish, mid-16th century Circle of Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen (1470-1533) Saint Jerome, translating at his writing desk, with a landscape beyond, and his lion drinking from a s...

Attributed to Francesco Codino (c.1590-c.1631) Still life of flowers on a ledge Oil on panel Painting Size - 15 1/2 x 14 in Framed Size - 22 x 20 in Provenance With Jocelyn Fielding...

Frans Pourbus (Bruges, 1545 - Antwerp, 1581) circle Portrait of a gentleman in Renaissance dress with a black doublet and ruff Late 16th century Oil on canvas 46 x 32 cm. - 65 x 53...

Andrea Solario (Milan, c. 1470 – Milan, 1524) follower of Ecce Homo oil on canvas 64 x 45 cm. framed 92 x 72 cm. Reference bibliography: David Alan Brown: Andrea Solario, M...

ARTIST - Circle of Orazio Samacchini (1532–1577) // PERIOD - Late 16th Century // ORIGIN - Bologna, Italy // MEDIUM - Oil on Panel // STYLE - Bolognese Mannerism // SUBJECT - Holy Fa...

Michael Coxie (Mechelen, 1499 – Mechelen, 1592) Workshop of Christ Carrying the Cross Oil on panel 85 x 57 cm. – framed 112 x 85 cm. The painting on offer, by an artist fro...

Attributed to Francesco Mazza, called "Il Parmigianino" (1503-1540) – "Adoration of the Magi" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 88 x 134 cm (unframed), 205 x 149 cm (framed) Proven...

Marcello Venusti (Mazzo di Valtellina 1510 - Rome 1579) workshop/circle Saint John the Baptist Oil on canvas (65 x 50 cm. -  In frame 74 x 58 cm.) The work depicts Saint John...

Antoine Caron (Beauvais, 1521 – Paris, 1599) workshop Massacre Ordered by the Triumvirs Oil on panel 48 x 77 cm. In frame 71 x 100 cm. The intriguing painting under consider...

Oil on walnut board. The painting follows early 16th-century Tuscan models (e.g., the pictorial mode of Domenico Puligo), but is of slightly later production and weaker hand, from "p...

Workshop of Perin del Vaga (Florence 1501 - Rome 1547) - The Flagellation of Christ. 71.5 x 59.5 cm (without frame) - 89 x 76 cm (with frame). Oil on panel, in an antique 17th-cent...

This extraordinary late 16th-century panel by an artist working in the circle of Spanish painter Miguel Barroso (1538-1590) depicts the Virgin Mary seated upon a raised throne. She g...

Andrea del Sarto (Florence, 1486 – Florence, 1531) Workshop Saint Sebastian Oil on oval panel 69 x 90 cm. – Framed 105 x 84 cm. The Saint Sebastian depicted in this splendid ...

Oil on Board. Venetian school of the mid-16th century. The crucified Christ in the center of the scene is surrounded by four saints identifiable by their iconographic signs: on the l...

Magnificent composition by Jacopo Palma il Giovane. Size: 92x58,5cm. Size with frame: 112x78,5cm. Palma il Giovane was a Venetian painter active in the late 16th and early 17th cent...

English School ‘En Deuil Blanc’ Portrait of Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-87) Oil-on-panel 14 x 10 in. c.1600 Provenance Christie’s, South Kensington, November, 2011; Private collecti...

Painting oil on canvas, measuring 82 x 112 cm without frame and 100 x 130 cm with contemporary frame, depicting Christ in the house of Mary and Magdalene by the painter Francesco Bas...

Florentine school of the sixteenth century Cristofano di Papi dell'Altissimo (Florence 1525 – 1605) workshop Portrait of Dante Alighieri (Florence 1265 - Ravenna 1321) Oil o...

Giacomo used to paint with his brother Giulio, identifying their works with the monogram «I I». The strong influence of his father, Francesco, is undeniable in all his works, althoug...

Icon Of Christ With Latin Inscriptions "I am The Way, The Trust & The Life", 16th Century School of The Master Of The Emerald Icons (1580-1610) 16th Century Italian Old Master ...

Crucifixion, studio of the Master of the Half-Figures (Antwerp, active 1500-1550), not signed Antwerp School, mid-16th century Oil on oak panel , h. 88 cm, w. 59 cm Original frame, framed: h. 98 cm, w. 68 cm A rare example of Antwerp painting from the first half of the 16th century, our Crucifixion captivates as much by the quality of its expansive river landscape as by the delicacy of its figures and the brilliance of its palette. The richness of the colors, the balance between devotion and narrative, and the subtlety of the atmospheric effects make it a particularly representative work of the artistic refinement developed in the workshop of the Master of the Half-Figures. Through its remarkable synthesis of the world-landscape inherited from Patinir and the expressive gentleness characteristic of the Master of the Half-Figures, this composition stands out as a particularly accomplished example of the Antwerp Flemish Renaissance. Our painting of the Crucifixion is organized around the central figure of Christ nailed to a high cross erected atop Golgotha. His slender, pale body stands out against a blue-green sky that lightens towards the horizon, creating an atmospheric depth characteristic of Flemish painting of this period. The bowed head, encircled by the crown of thorns, expresses agony in a restrained pose. The white loincloth, tied at the front according to a recurring motif in the work of the Master of the Half-Figures, has one end drawn between the legs before billowing outwards in a movement lifted by the wind, subtly animating Christ's silhouette. At the foot of the cross, a skull and a few bones evoke Adam and the redemption of humanity through Christ's sacrifice. To the left stands the Virgin Mary, enveloped in a flowing blue-green mantle whose heavy folds accentuate her contemplative posture. Her pale face, framed by a white veil, expresses silent sorrow. Kneeling at the center of the composition, Mary Magdalene embraces the cross in a gesture of fervent devotion, while to the right, Saint John, clad in a richly textured red cloak, gazes up at Christ, his hands folded across his chest. Contrary to the iconography typically found in 16th-century Antwerp workshops, he appears here as a bearded, middle-aged man. This relatively rare characteristic, however, is found in several works by the Master of the Half-Figures. The Virgin's face displays the typical characteristics of the Master of Half-Figures' repertoire : a high forehead, full cheeks, a rounded chin, and a gentle expression tinged with restrained melancholy. This youthful, feminine physiognomy is found in numerous depictions of Virgins, Magdalenes, and other saints from his workshop. The figures are also distinguished by their smooth complexions, elegant proportions, and attention to the richness of the fabrics, favoring formal refinement over dramatic expressiveness. The background unfolds according to the world-landscape formula inherited from Joachim Patinir. A vast panorama, blending a fortified city, estuary, winding paths, rocky outcrops, and bluish hills, stretches behind the sacred figures. At the heart of this lively river landscape, a small port, quays, and several boats also appear, their silhouettes punctuating the waterway and testifying to the attention paid by Antwerp painters to the commercial and maritime activities that ensured the city's prosperity. The composition is structured by a succession of narrative planes that invite the viewer's eye to move through the image as a continuous story, a technique characteristic of Antwerp painting in the first half of the 16th century. Behind the main scene appears the episode of the Carrying of the Cross, depicted by a group of soldiers and horsemen, with Golgotha rising on the mountain to the left, while to the right, in a grotto carved into the rocks, unfolds the Entombment of Christ. This multifaceted narrative, integrated into the landscape, enriches the meditative dimension of the work while highlighting its kinship with the inventions of Patinir. The attribution to the workshop of the Master of the Half-Figures seems all the more plausible given that several art historians, notably Robert Koch and Walter Gibson...

Jacopo BASSANO (c. 1510-1592, Italian) Portrait of a Procuratore Oil on canvas 30 ¼ x 26 inches (including frame) Provenance: Lucien Bonaparte’s Collection (as Portrait of Doge Priuli, Tiziano); Rich-mond, Virginia Museum, Portrait of Doge Lorenzo Priuli. The painting is a portrait of a man half-length, on a black background. It is a three-quarter portrait, according to a custom very common in the genre of portraiture in sixteenth century. The man is wearing a decorated...

English School Portrait of Sir Henry Guildford 16th Century Oil on oak panel, unsigned Image size: 15 x 11 inches (38 x 28 cm) Contemporary style frame Provenance Private Collection...

Marinus van Reymerswaele c.1490 – c.1546 Dutch The Tax Collectors 16th century Oil on wood panel Marinus van Reymerswaele stands among the greatest and most beloved artists of 16th-century Antwerp. Entitled The Tax Collectors, this oil on board original exudes the technical skill and life-like vibrancy for which the artist is renowned. In a quiet interior scene, two men sit at a green table covered in coins, jewels, and empty moneybags. While the man in the red turban...

The painting and the preparatory drawing are offered together. Provenance Private collection, Germany, Trier, c. 1980- 2013 Saint John the Baptist Brown ink and wash over red chalk on oatmeal paper 31 x 20.5 cm Inscribed: „Ferrau Fenzonio da Faenza invt. esque … imp. da Fran. Villamena …“. bears the collector's mark of Henry Scipio Reitlinger (1882-1950; Lugt 2274a) on a tiny label glued to the verso On the reverse is a partial drawing of a Pieta, pricked for transfer. Provenance New York, Doyle, 14. October 2015, No. 6 The painting and the preparatory drawing resemble the composition of an engraving after Ferraù Fenzoni by Francesco Villamena. Drawing, engraving and painting are almost identical, except for minor differences. Even the measurements nearly correspond: painting (32 x 25,5 cm), drawing (30 x 20,5 cm), engraving (31,1 x 23,5 cm). Dr. Guiseppe Scavizzi confirmed the attribution of the present panting to Fenzoni and he dates it to c. 1590. The inscription on the drawing reads “Ferrau Fenzonio da Faenza invt. esque. . . imp. da Fran: Villamena . . .”. The engraving’s inscription also lists place and date “Ferra Fensionius inventor/F. Villamoena sculpsit Rome/Aspectu fruitur… antra puer/cum Privilegio… 1613”. Interestingly, the engraving is not mirrored as it is in most printing processes. Painting, drawing and engraving are not reversed but the same. It is remarkable to note that there are further paintings by Fenzoni which were engraved in the same order and not reverted. They also show strong parallels regarding the compositions and the measurements (see for example “Deposition of Christ” ). Ferraù Fenzoni was an Italian painter mainly active in Todi. He is also called Il Faenzone after his birthplace (Faenza). He apprenticed in Rome during the papacy of Gregory XIII and contributed to numerous fresco cycles under pope Sixtus V, such as the Loggia della Benedizioni in the Lateran Palace, the frescoes on the walls and vaults of the Scala Santa of the adjacent Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, and the decoration in the Sistine library. His expressive canvases straddle the styles of Mannerism and Baroque. In 1594, he moved to Todi. A “Last Judgement” by him is housed in the cathedral of Todi. He returned to Faenza in 1599, where he decorated chapels in the cathedral from 1612 to 1616. In 1622, he completed a “Deposition”, now in the local Pinacoteca. In 1640, Fenzoni was named “cavaliere dello speron d’oro” by Cardinal Colonna and, on 25th April 1634, he was nominated vicar and “castellano of Granarolo”. Fenzoni‘s style is characterized by a mixture of the Mannerism of the Northern Netherlands and the Italian Baroque. Saint John the Baptist, Old Master, 17th Century, By Fenzoni, Religious Scene, Rome Art...

This exquisite oil painting on wood, created by an unknown Flemish artist in 1594, depicts a young girl seated in a chair. The artwork is in very good condition, though some modest r...

Studio of William Scrots Portrait of Edward VI when Prince of Wales 16th Century Oil on oak panel, unsigned Image size: 11 ½ x 11 ½ inches (29.3 x 29.3 cm) Early hand-carved gilt frame Provenance: The Hunter Blair collection, Blairquhan, Scotland By descent Christie’s London, 24th May 2007, lot 39 Mould Gallery Private Collection This striking portrait depicts Edward VI in the regalia of the Prince of Wales, shortly before he was to become the King of England. The Roman numerals on the painting indicate a creation year of 1546, meaning that Edward was only nine when this likeness was captured. It is believed that this work is a copy of a portrait held by the Met Museum of New York, completed by the Flemish portraitist William Scrots, who worked extensively with Henry VIII as the King’s Painter. Henry VIII had utilised the side-profile perspective as an artistic motif to assert the power of his Tudor dynasty. The perspective became associated with royalty, and its application in this portrait affirms Edward’s succession and future role as the English monarch. Portraits were an important way in which those in the 16th century captured likenesses of important public figures, such as the crown prince - for this reason, Edward VI is one of the most well documented Tudor monarchs, with multiple portraits capturing his childhood. This current work is exquisitely detailed, with great care taken to depict Edward’s lavish clothing. It is possible to make out the most minute of details, from the acorns on his collar to the individual barbs of the feathers on his cap. The gold chains fixing his jacket in place and the metallic aglets on his cap are also remarkable, indicating the absolute wealth and power of the Tudor dynasty. This portrait recently underwent dendrochronological analysis, which revealed that the work was painted during Edward’s lifetime. It was later altered to fit the diamond format that we see currently, which is also likely when the ‘ich dien’ (the motto of the Prince of Wales, meaning ‘I serve’) was added. King Edward VI On the 12th of October 1537, Jane Seymour gave birth to Henry VIII’s only son, who would be named Edward. As a celebration of this new heir to the throne, two thousands rounds of ammunition were shot from the Tower of London, and parties and festivities occurred all across England. Edward was baptised three days after his birth by Thomas Cranmer in a lavish ceremony before retiring to the Queen’s apartments to receive parental blessings. In a sad turn of events, Jane Seymour never recovered from the birth of her son, dying only 12 days after giving birth. Increasingly paranoid about Edward’s wellbeing as his only male heir, Henry VII ordered that he would remain at Hampton Court Palace. Edward was afforded a luxurious suite, but was initially kept in the presence chamber in a ‘cradle of state’ so that nobles and courtiers could visit the young prince. After this, Edward lived in his own bedchamber and was served by his own kitchen to avoid contamination. Once weaned, his food was tested by a servant to ensure it was safe for the prince to consume. Edward’s clothes were washed before he wore them, everything he touched had to be cleaned before he could do so, and the walls, floors and ceilings of his suite had to be scrubbed clean multiple times a day. Any visitors were forced to wash before seeing the prince, and they could not attend the chambers if they had even the smallest sign of sickness. Edward was raised by the women of the court and was known as a healthy, handsome, tall and well-fed young boy. He was shy and looked to his nurses for reassurance, and it is documented that even the most stern of nursemaids doted upon him. His elder half-sister Mary visited him regularly and showered him with lavish gifts - this makes their later divide over religion all the more heartbreaking. He was educated alongside his sister, Elizabeth, to whom he was the closest in age. Edward saw little of his father until he became an ‘adult’ at the age of six. From this point on, Edward was expected to play the heir to the throne. His female attendants were dismissed and his education became that of a prince. His suite and wardrobe were redesigned to match Henry VIII’s own. His schoolmasters noted him for his maturity, but also for his fierce temper. Edward studied humanist subjects such as classics, Latin, Greek and rhetoric, as well as gentlemanly pursuits of fencing, riding, and music. He was also educated in religion and scripture by the Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who became somewhat of a father figure for the prince. In 1547, when Edward was nine years old, Henry VII died - his young son was crowned as King only a month later. Due to his young age, Edward was supported by a regency council, but this was quickly overpowered by the King’s uncle, Edward Seymour, who seized control as Lord Protector. Edward kept a diary during this period, whose writings characterise him as a cold and unfeeling young boy - these qualities may well have become disastrous for a monarch if he had survived. Edward is most renowned for his Protestant reforms. He introduced a new Book of Common Prayer in 1549, and again in 1552. This second Book provided the basis for worship within the Church of England for the next four hundred years. He also banned Catholic rituals such as casting of holy water, pilgrimages, and using rosaries...

Jan Van der Straet, known as Giovanni Stradano (Bruges 1523 - Florence 1605), Workshop of The Adoration of the Magi late 16th century - early 17th century oil painting on canvas Mea...

Lady Dormer, Mary Browne c. 1592 oil on panel 35 x 29 inches, unframed; 41 x 34.75 inches, inc. frame Inscribed 'Lady Dormore' Mary married Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton who gave birth to Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton - one of the great figures in Shakespears"s circle and founder of the Virginia company, developers of Virginia USA. Henry Wriothesley, born 6 October 1573 at Cowdray House, Sussex, was the only son of Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampton, by Mary Browne, the only daughter of Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montague, and his first wife, Jane Radcliffe.[5] He had two sisters, Jane, who died before 1573, and Mary (c. 1567 – 1607), who in June 1585 married Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour.[6] After his father's death, Southampton's mother married firstly, on 2 May 1595, as his second wife, Sir Thomas Heneage (d. 17 October 1595), Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, and secondly, between 5 November 1598 and 31 January 1599, Sir William Hervey. She died in November 1607.[7] Early life When his father died on 4 October 1581 Southampton inherited the earldom and landed income valued at £1097 6s per annum. His wardship and marriage were sold by the Queen to her kinsman, Charles, Lord Howard of Effingham, for £1000. According to Akrigg, Howard then "entered into some further agreement, of which no documentation can now be found, which transferred to Lord Burghley personally the custody and marriage of the young Earl, but left Howard holding his lands", and late in 1581 or early in 1582 Southampton, then eight years of age, came to live at Cecil House in the Strand.[8] In October 1585, at age twelve, Southampton entered St John's College, Cambridge,[9] graduating M.A. on 6 June 1589.[10] His name was entered at the Gray's Inn legal society before he left the university, and he was admitted on 29 February 1588.[11] On Southampton's 16th birthday, 6 October 1589, Lord Burghley noted Southampton's age in his diary, and by 1590 Burghley was negotiating with Southampton's grandfather, Anthony Browne, 1st Viscount Montague, and Southampton's mother, Mary, for a marriage between Southampton and Lord Burghley's eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth Vere, daughter of Burghley's daughter, Anne Cecil, and Edward de Vere...

Antique painting depicting the Face of Christ as Salvator Mundi Flemish painter, 16th-17th century Oil on copper 22 x 18 cm./ framed 42 x ...

Provenance: with Leo Blumenreich and Julius Böhler, Munich, 1924 Dr. Frederic Goldstein Oppenheimer (1881-1963), San Antonio, Texas; by whom given to: Abraham M. Adler, New York, until 1985; thence by descent to the present owners While old inscriptions on the verso of this panel propose its author to be Hans Holbein and the sitter Sir John More—a lawyer, judge, and the father of Sir Thomas More—this fine portrait has long been recognized to be by a Flemish hand. Max Friedländer gave the painting to Bernard van Orley (1487/1491 – 1541) in 1924, but did not include it in the volume dedicated to the artist in his Early Netherlandish Paintings...

Bernardino Campi (Cremona 1522–1591) Salome with the Head of John the Baptist Oil on canvas 101 x 76 cm. – Framed 118 x 94 cm. Provenance: Templum Fine Art Auctions, Barcelon...

After Raphael Conestabile Madonna 1483 - 1520 Oil on poplar panel Image size: 8 x 8 inches (20.5 x 20.5 cm) Original ornate hand carved gilt frame Conestabile Madonna Made in compos...

Landscape with Figures is an original Old Master Painting realized in the Second half of the 16th Century and attributed to the French painter Matthijs Bril (Antwerp, 1550 – Rome, 15...

Extraordinary in its beauty and rarity, this early 16th-century German painting of an illuminated manuscript showcases a masterful trompe l’oeil effect. Unequivocally among the finest of only 17 known works of its kind, the oil on panel is both rare and captivating. With illusory pages that appear to leap from the panel, this virtuosic painting of a hand-colored book suspended into space is exceptional. Created more than four centuries ago, the composition evokes a strong sense of realism. Executed by a masterful Northern Renaissance artist of the German school, the illuminated manuscript pictured shows the astonishing splendor of the historical books of the period. Sumptuously decorated with scrolling floral motifs in the margins, the manuscript appears before a deep black background, heightening the trompe l’oeil illusion of depth through its strong contrast and the naturalistic shadows falling across the fluttering pages. It has been said that of the 17 known versions of this composition, ours stands alone in its precision in both perspective and the play of light and shadow. The visible folios feature choral arrangements and other texts, indicating the pictured manuscript likely served a role in the celebration of church services. In fact, other examples of manuscript paintings...

A masterful example of Italian Mannerist painting, this exceptional panel was composed by the renowned Florentine painter Domenico Puligo. Alongside Jacopo Pontormo and Rosso Fiorentino, Puligo is remembered as one of the foremost figures of the Mannerist movement that rose to prominence during the 16th century in Florence. This panel of the Virgin Mary with the Christ child and Saint John the Baptist is a characteristic example of his celebrated devotional images, which grace museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Museo del Prado (Madrid), Palazzo Borghese (Rome), and Palazzo Pitti (Florence), among many others. Puligo’s skill with color is fully demonstrated in the beautifully preserved work. Considering its age, the vibrancy and the sheer range of color is remarkable. The Virgin Mary’s crimson dress...

Francesco Traballesi (Florence, Italy, 1541 - Mantua, Italy, 1588) Title: Portrait of a young man with a glove Medium: Oil on panel Dimensions: without frame 69.5 × 86.5 cm Painting ...

Madonna and Child Workshop of Andrea del Sarto, pseudonym of Andrea d'Agnolo di Francesco (Florence 1486 - 1530) Attributable to Jacopo di Giovanni di Francesco, known as Jacone (...

Studio of Adriaen Isenbrandt 1510 - 1551 The Virgin and Child Enthroned Oil on oak panel, wax seal verso Image size: 10 3/4 x 8 inches (27 x 20.5 cm) Contemporary style frame (image below) POA Provenance Collection of Mrs Marianne Hudson Mary, holding Jesus in her arms, is centrally positioned against a gold detailed architectural backdrop, reflecting the traditional iconography of the enthroned Virgin and Child. This composition suggests the theme of “Maestà” or “Majesty,” emphasising the figures religious significance. In the painting from the studio of Adriaen Isenbrandt, the artist masterfully infuses the scene with rich symbolism and hidden meanings that reflect the cultural and religious context of the period. The infant Christ, seated on the Virgin Mary’s lap, is draped in a delicate, translucent white garment that symbolises his purity. In his hand, he clutches a piece of coral, a multifaceted symbol representing immortality, youth, and health. Notably, coral was also a common teething tool during that era, adding another layer of contemporary relevance. A scarlet-headed blackbird, native to South America, perches gracefully on Christ’s outstretched finger. This bird is a potent symbol of creation and protection, enhancing the divine narrative of the scene. Mary, with a tender and loving gesture, caresses Christ’s back while gazing adoringly at her son, underscoring her role as the nurturing mother of God. Mary is centrally positioned within an architectural alcove, which subtly suggests a heavenly halo without explicitly depicting one. The alcove’s niches, traditionally used to emphasise the importance of sculptures, further highlight her significance. She is adorned in a voluminous red gown, with the undulating folds of the fabric accentuated by white highlights. The red colour of her dress symbolises maternal qualities, while the iridescent blue undercoat, visible in certain areas, signifies sanctity and purity due to its rarity and expense at the time. Moreover, Mary is depicted as the epitome of contemporary Medieval...

16th Century Venetian Maestro Title: Deposition of Christ Medium: Oil on panel Dimensions: without frame 40 x 25 cm Painting without frame Not signed Previously part of the Canesso Collection, Paris. Fairs: The International Biennial of Antiques in Florence 2022 (BIAF, Biennale Internazionale dell’Antiquariato di Firenze) Publications: Bozzetti, modelletti, sketches: dalla collezione di Giorgio Baratti (From the Giorgio Baratti Collection) curated by Anna Orlando, Agnese Marengo and Annalisa Scarpa, Genoa, 2022, pp. 22, 23. In this precious panel we can admire a lament over the body of Christ by a large group of bystanders among whom we can recognise the Virgin and, in the foreground, St Catherine of Alexandria...

Nicolò Cercignani, known as “il Pomarancio,” *The Transfiguration*, a large-scale oil painting on copper plate. The work is attributed to Nicolò Cercignani, known as il Pomarancio (P...

Oil on Canvas. Lombard school of the late 1500s. The large scene depicts an angel in the foreground announcing to Joachim as he grazes his sheep, the imminent birth of his daughter;...

Gillis Mostaert Hulst 1534 – 1598 Antwerp Flemish Painter 'Adoration of the Shepherds' Medium: oil on panel Dimensions: image size 38,5 x 46,5 cm, frame size 54 x 62 cm Provenance...

Oil on Board. Central-Italian school of the second half of the 1500s. The sacred scene of the Annunciation sees the two protagonist figures placed in the foreground in an interior th...

Giovanni Balducci, known as Il Cosci (Florence, 1560 – Naples, after 1631) Madonna in Glory Surrounded by Angels Oil on panel (48 x 37 cm. - In frame 68 x 57 cm.) We are offer...

Virgin with Child, studio of Giovanni Pietro Rizzoli, known as Giampietrino (active Milan 1495-1550) Not signed Oil on poplar panel, h. 63 cm (24.8 in), w. 49 cm (19.29 in) Important...

Bernardino Detti (Pistoia, Italy, 1498 - 1572) Title: Face of Christ Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 41 x 32 cm - with frame 47 x 55.5 cm Antique box frame made of solid wood and walnut burl Not signed Publications: unpublished The painting by Bernardino Detti (1498 - 1572) depicts the face of Jesus...

The painting features the enthroned Madonna and Child, two praying angels, and Saints Nicholas of Tolentino, Augustine, Luke the Evangelist, and Monica, below an elegant canopy. The ...

This recently rediscovered portrait of Santi di Tito depicts a Florentine senator, with a letter in his hand indicating that the painting was executed in 1574 when the sitter was 66 years old. On the basis of these clues, it is tempting to view it as a portrait of Bartolomeo Panciatichi, who was painted some thirty years before by Bronzino (1503 - 1572). While the treatment of the hands recalls the Florentine tradition of Mannerist portraits, the comparison with Bronzino's portrait illustrates Santi di Tito's search for greater realism, despite the stereotyped composition. 1. Santi di Tito, Counter-Reformation painter and portraitist Santi di Tito was the great painter of the Florentine Counter-Reformation. He proposed a new artistic language that broke away from Mannerism. Little is known about his training in Florence (perhaps alongside Bronzino or Baccio Bandinelli), but this period of training enabled him to join the Company of Saint Luke, the guild of Florentine painters, in 1554. Between 1560 and 1564, Santi di Tito spent time in Rome, where he frequented the workshop of Taddeo Zuccari. This stay had a fundamental influence on his work, thanks to the discovery of the late work of Raphael, but also his encounters with the painters Francesco Salviati and Federico Barocci. Around 1565, Santi di Tito returned to Florence, where he remained until the end of his life, dividing his talents between the creation of important religious paintings and countless portraits. He became one of the city's leading painters, distinguishing himself, in particular, in the creation of large religious compositions in which the spirit of the Counter-Reformation was reflected. In 1568, Santi di Tito became a member of the Confraternity of Saint Thomas Aquinas...