Hagar and Ishmael comforted by the angel: Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666)

Hagar and Ishmael comforted by the angel: Preparatory study for the painting in the Colonna Palace collection. Oil on canvas 26x40 cm Pier Francesco Mola (1612-1666) is a prominent figure in 17th-century Roman painting. His art, characterized by remarkable versatility, originally blended the suggestions of Venetian colorism, the solidity of Bolognese drawing, and the grandeur of the Roman tradition. His artistic training was eclectic, marked by travels and learning from various masters, a wealth of experiences that undoubtedly influenced his approach to sacred and mythological subjects. His career was primarily spent in Rome, where he had the opportunity to work for important aristocratic families who acted as patrons, including, with high probability, the noble Colonna family. This work depicts the biblical episode where Hagar, driven into the desert with her son Ishmael, is comforted by an angel. Written confirmation by Prof. Francesco Petrucci