Sassoferrato - The Virgin in Prayer [1640-50]

Sassoferrato - The Virgin in Prayer [1640-50], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

This mature work is a version of a popular design known in at least two other paintings by Sassoferrato (1609 - 1685). This particular design showing the Virgin at prayer is one of at least four evolved by the artist. Sassoferrato places emphasis on the softly modelled draperies, the white veil and brilliant blue cloak, painted in ultramarine. The face remains largely in shadow, the eyes downcast, and this has the effect of highlighting the hands joined in prayer. 

Giovanni Battista Salvi was born at Sassoferrato in the Marches, from where he took his name. His work, which was consciously anachronistic in 17th-century Rome, looked back to the 15th-century manner. Sassoferrato's paintings consist for the most part of immaculately painted devotional images of the Virgin and Holy Family, usually repeated in several versions

[Oil on canvas, 73 x 57.7 cm]