Madonna and Child, c. 1600-1601, Guido Reni, Italian, (Bologna), 1575–1642, 6 15/16 x 8 7/16 in. (17.62 x 21.43 cm)9 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (23.5 x 29.21 cm) (mount)15 3/4 × 19 3/4 in. (40.01 × 50.17 cm) (outer frame), Brush and brown and black oil paint, white tempera, pen and black ink, on brown prepared paper, Italy, 16th-17th century, Recently rediscovered, this dark, quiet image is a rare early drawing by the Bolognese painter Guido Reni. One of the most celebrated masters of devotional art in the 17th century, Reni created countless images of saints, the Madonna, and Christ that have resonated with the faithful for centuries. This drawing appears to be an early experiment in a genre he would come to define. The Parmigianinesque composition reflects Reni’s deep admiration of the Mannerist artist. (It references a chiaroscuro woodcut by Antonio da Trento after a Parmiginino design.) To achieve the shimmering, jewellike quality, Reni tinted the paper brown and applied a deeper brown oil paint to the surface as a ground. He then worked the figures up from dark to light, achieving an intimate yet powerful devotional image.
Keywords:
Madonna, Child, 1600-1601, Guido Reni, Italian, Bologna, 1575–1642, mount, outer frame, Brush, brown, black oil paint, white tempera, pen, black ink, brown prepared paper, Italy, 16th-17th century, Recently rediscovered, dark, quiet image, rare early drawing, Bolognese painter Guido Reni, celebrated masters, devotional art, 17th century, Reni created countless images, saints, Madonna, Christ, resonated, faithful, centuries, drawing, early experiment, genre, come, define, Parmigianinesque composition reflects Reni's deep admiration, Mannerist artist, references, chiaroscuro woodcut, Antonio da Trento, Parmiginino design, achieve, shimmering, jewellike quality, Reni tinted, paper brown, applied, deeper brown oil paint, surface, ground, worked, figures up, dark, light, achieving, intimate yet powerful devotional image, 15 3/4 × 19 3/4
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