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Oxio
111
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19th-century ITALIAN school, after Giovanni Baptista Salvi, …
See original version (French)
111
-
19th-century ITALIAN school, after Giovanni Baptista Salvi, …
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,200
Voluntary lot
Description
19th-century ITALIAN school, after Giovanni Baptista Salvi, known as Sassoferrato. Virgin in Prayer
Oil on canvas
H. 72.5 cm – W. 60.5 cm (as seen)
H. 111 cm – W. 99 cm (including frame)
Some restoration work
Note:
Based on the work held at the National Gallery, London.
Painted in the mid-17th century by Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as Il Sassoferrato, *The Virgin in Prayer* remains one of the pinnacles of Italian devotional painting. In contrast to the dramatic excesses and grand swirls of the Roman Baroque, the artist made a deliberate choice in favour of a silent and timeless contemplation. Mary is depicted in a half-length portrait, set apart from any architectural or narrative context by a dark, neutral background, which immediately draws the viewer’s gaze to her inner fervour. With her hands delicately clasped, her head bowed and her eyes downcast, she invites the viewer into an intimate meditation directly inspired by the spirit of the Counter-Reformation. The composition is based on a chromatic brilliance of the utmost rigour: a deep ultramarine blue, derived from extremely rare lapis lazuli, contrasts sharply with the pure white of the veil and the carmine red of the dress. The light, of great softness, shapes the drapery with sculptural precision without ever disrupting the harmony of the forms. Drawing inspiration from the formal purity of Raphael and Perugino, Sassoferrato presents an archaic and idealised aesthetic that captivated his contemporaries. This formal perfection and serene grace ensured the work immense renown, prompting the painter’s workshop to produce numerous copies to meet the fervent demand from private patrons across Europe.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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