Italian school, 17th Century

Italian school, 17th Century, Follower of Francesco Vanni (Siena, 1563 – 1610), Holy Family with Saint Francis
The work in question represents the Holy Family with St. Francis, captured in a moment of simple everyday life and intimacy. In a closed environment, the Madonna holds the Child in her arms, while she leans forward to draw with a spoon from the dish offered by the angel in front of her, containing food for the little Jesus. Behind them, Joseph, portrayed slightly on the sidelines, observes the scene while holding a sprig of cherries in his hands. The different characters, positioned on different levels, are linked by games of looks and gestures, creating a studied composition. The dark background highlights the three main figures placed in the foreground, illuminated by a brilliant lateral light and rendered with lively iridescent shades. In addition to the drapery of the robes, great attention is paid to the details: for example, note the hairstyles of the Virgin and the angel adorned with fine colored ribbons, or the strokes of light on the red cherries. The painting is a valuable derivation from Francesco Vanni's Rest on the Flight into Egypt (Siena, 1563 - 1610), a work currently preserved at the Yale University Art Gallery, also known as the “Madonna della Pappa”. Various derivations of the canvas are known, including the copy attributed to Ippolito Scarepella known as Scarpellino (Ferrara, 1550 1620) currently located in the Palazzo della Pilotta in Parma, and some engravings, such as the one preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. By Raffaello Guidi (1585-1615). Oil on canvas, 75 x 56 cm