Madonna and Child - Circle of Carlo Bononi

Materials: Oil on panel Century: XVII century Measures 68x53 cm Precious painting depicting the Madonna and Child (Virgo Lactans), executed with an oil technique that denotes high executive quality. The work fully fits into the Ferrarese cultural environment of the 17th century, showing close stylistic affinities with the production of Carlo Bononi. The composition is distinguished by a low viewpoint and masterful management of light, which envelops the figures in an atmosphere of quiet sacredness. The affectionate character of the depiction and the intimacy of the gesture directly recall the lesson of Ludovico Carracci, filtered through the Emilian sensibility. The pictorial composition is characterized by colors laid down with fluidity and a delicate sfumato that gives an elegant effect of softness to the flesh and drapery. The work reflects the evolution of taste between the late Mannerism of Girolamo Mazzuoli (known as il Bastarolo) and the naturalistic innovations of the early Baroque. The luministic direction and the rendering of details, such as the book and the fruit on the left, enrich the scene with symbolic meanings and perspectival depth. The painting is presented within a later wooden molded frame. The state of conservation is good, with a pictorial surface that maintains its readability and original chromatic freshness.