Century XVI

On this large canvas (159 × 127.5 cm) the Madonna is depicted with the Christ Child and Saint John the Baptist. Mary, clad in a red tunic and blue mantle, stands in a serenely formal pose with a halo above her head; the Infant Christ raises His hand in blessing, while John the Baptist – […]

The painting presents an intimate composition of the Madonna col Bambino type, characteristic of Florentine painting of the first third of the sixteenth century. The Madonna is shown seated against the background of a softly opening landscape; she tenderly supports the Christ Child, whose hands are joined at her breast, lending the scene not only […]

Francesco Bassano – The Crowning with Thorns. This painting depicts a dramatic nocturnal scene from the Passion of Christ. Christ, dressed in a rose-red cloak and wearing the crown of thorns, is placed at the centre of the composition and surrounded by the figures of his tormentors, soldiers, and servants. The space is immersed in […]

The painting presents a young noblewoman in ceremonial attire, shown bust-length against a dark, neutral background. Her pale silk dress with gilded trim, high ruff collar, pearl necklace, earrings, and hair ornament form an expressive ensemble of aristocratic fashion from the second half of the sixteenth century. The strict frontal pose, restrained, almost motionless gaze, […]

Giovanni Paolo Cavagna — Portrait with a Lemon (132 × 107 cm), last decade of the 16th century. This is a formal portrait in the Venetian manner, distinguished by severity and restrained dignity. It depicts a successful fruit merchant from Venice (hence the lemon in his hand). An elderly man in a black robe with […]

The painting depicts The Rest on the Flight into Egypt: the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child is placed at the centre of the composition against a landscape background; beside them is Joseph, bending towards them with a cherry branch, while on the right an ass is visible – the traditional attribute of the journey […]

Giovanni De Vecchi — The Visitation (150 × 148 cm). The Visitation is a favorite theme of the Italian Renaissance, rendered here with the clarity of composition and harmony of color characteristic of the Roman-Florentine tradition. The composition is built on the juxtaposition of the two central figures – the Virgin Mary and Saint Elizabeth […]

Domenico Tintoretto – Portrait of a Venetian (115 × 95 cm). This is a formal portrait of a noble Italian from the late 16th century, likely connected with trade. The man is shown in three-quarter view, dressed in austere black attire with a high white lace collar that underscores his status and refinement. His confident […]

Cristofano dell’Altissimo – Portrait of Romulus, Founder of Rome (61 × 47 cm), 16th century. A bust-length profile facing left against a dark neutral background; an inscription in gold Roman capitals, “ROMVLO RE DI ROMA”, explicitly identifies the figure as Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome. A man with a short dark beard is crowned […]

Alessandro Allori – Portrait of Cosimo I de’ Medici, Florentine School, circa 1560. This portrait is a characteristic example of the official portrait tradition of Tuscan Mannerism in the second half of the sixteenth century. Depicted is Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519–1574), Grand Duke of Tuscany, at roughly forty years of age – at the […]

Francesco Salviati – Portrait of a Young Man (79 × 59,5 cm). A half-length portrait of a man in three-quarter view set against a severe architectural niche with pilasters. The sitter turns to the left and looks toward the viewer; he wears a black doublet and a beret, with a white shirt whose fine lace […]