Artwork
The Virgin in Prayer
The Virgin in Prayer is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Virgin in Prayer is a painting created by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato around 1650. It is an oil painting that exemplifies the artist's style, which adhered to the influence of Raphael.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary in a devotional pose, with her hands clasped together and her eyes cast upwards. The Virgin's attire consists of a dark robe and a white shawl wrapped around her head and shoulders, conveying a sense of reverence and piety.
Technique & Style
The painting showcases the artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth. The visible brushstrokes and texture of the oil paint add to the overall effect of the work.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato
Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato (25 August 1609 – 8 August 1685), also known as Giovanni Battista Salvi, was an Italian Baroque painter, known for his archaizing commitment to Raphael's style.
