Extraordinary oil on panel painting depicting “MADONNA WITH CHILD AND SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST”.
At the center of the scene, emerging from a dark background, the Virgin Mary is portrayed with a sweet and serene face while holding the naked Child Jesus in her arms, covered only by a white cloth. To the right of the viewer appears a young Saint John the Baptist, recognizable by his camel skin and staff with a cross, who tenderly turns his gaze towards Jesus.
The facial features are delicate and idealized, the complexions light and smooth with pearly nuances, the mouths rosy and heart-shaped, the noses thin. The eyes are bright, perfectly symmetrical, with well-calibrated reflected light and show a high technical mastery. The mouth of the Madonna and Saint John the Baptist is small, shaped by a few strokes, as seen in many official portraits of the Florentine Cinquecento. The curly hair of the Child Jesus and Saint John is painted with small curved brushstrokes, giving a soft but controlled rendering, typical of an experienced artist attentive to the pictorial surface.
The Child has a composed expression and an almost statuesque pose, reminiscent of Bronzino's aesthetic.
"On the reverse" it bears an ancient signature/monogram MP, attributable to the collector's initials.
The work can be easily placed within the Florentine Mannerist painting of the second half of the 16th century, showing strong stylistic affinities with Alessandro Allori or his workshop.
cm. 78x62 approximately