Oil on canvas. This work is one of several replicas, with some variations, of the famous subject created by the Bolognese painter Guido Reni (1574-1642) and his workshop. The composition, which features the Virgin in prayer, bent over to adore the sleeping Child, is considered a brilliant invention of Reni's style. Following its great success among collectors of the time, it was later taken up by other 17th-century artists, among whom Giovan Battista Salvi, known as "Il Sassoferrato," stands out. The two most famous variations of this fascinating scene show the Virgin with her hands clasped in prayer, as in this version, adopted by Salvi, or with her hands on her chest, a typical Renian motif. Other variations concern the position of the sleeping Child's head, turned upward as in this version, rather than reclining to one side; finally, the background fabrics are different. Yet even in this replica, the intensity of the scene stands out: the body of the child, resting in repose, dominates the scene, where the divine nature subdues the human in sleep; above it, leaning in a protective yet contemplative gesture, is Mary's body, expressing all her maternal tenderness but also, in the gestures of her hands, adoration of the incarnate mystery represented by her son. The vivid colors of the fabrics—the cushion on which Jesus lies, the curtain behind it, the Mother's clothes—enhance the luminosity of the flesh tones. The painting was relined in the mid-20th century.
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PLATINUM Seller in Milano, Italy
