Artwork
Virgin and Child with Saints Mary Magdalene, Peter, Clare, Francis, and an Abbess
Virgin and Child with Saints Mary Magdalene, Peter, Clare, Francis, and an Abbess is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Scarsellino. It dates from 1595 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. This oil painting, created around 1595, depicts a gathering of religious figures around the Virgin and Child.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, created around 1595, depicts a gathering of religious figures around the Virgin and Child. It is a representative work of the Mannerist style, characteristic of the School of Ferrara.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows the Virgin holding a container, surrounded by saints including Clare, Francis, Mary Magdalene, and Peter, as well as an unidentified abbess. The figures are engaged in a quiet, contemplative moment, emphasizing the sacred theme.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and drama, with strong shadows and highlights on the figures. The refined and expressive rendering of the subjects is typical of Scarsellino's work and the School of Ferrara.
History & Provenance
Painted by Ippolito Scarsella, known as Scarsellino, a Ferrarese painter active in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the work is now held in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Artist & collection
Artist
Scarsellino or Ippolito Scarsella (1550 (or 1551) – 28 October 1620) was an Italian mid-to-late sixteenth century reformist painter and one of the most important representatives of the School of Ferrara.
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