Virgin And Child And The Little Saint John The Baptist

Virgin and Child with San Giovannino Workshop of Jacopo Amigoni (Naples 1682-Madrid 1752) Oil painting on canvas Period first half of the 18th century Old frame Canvas size 61 x 79 Frame 71 x 89 Work in excellent condition This beautiful composition representing the Virgin holding her child in her arms, adored by the little Saint John the Baptist, is undoubtedly to be related to the work of Jacopo Amigoni. The faces of the protagonists, in particular that of the blond and curly child, are indeed absolutely unmistakable. The dark background, preferred by the Amigoni, brings out bright complexions and accentuates the volume of faces and bodies. At the end of his long and extraordinary career, he moved to Spain in Madrid, and became the court painter of Ferdinand XVI. His studio, which became famous especially in portraiture, produced a series of exquisite works with the Virgin as the protagonist. There is a strong Neapolitan influence in his painting acquired by Solimena and De Mura as well as a Venetian pictorial sequence acquired during his stay in Venice. Our canvas is an excellent example of his elegant painting which is among the most sought after in the artistic panorama of the 18th century.