FLORENTINE, FIRST QUARTER OF XVI CENTURY

MADONNA AND CHILD WITH THE INFANT JOHN THE BAPTIST IN THE LANDSCAPE

The state of this work's preservation is good. Its painter learnt his craft at the end of the 15^th century in Florence, where many outstanding artists were working. The link to them can easily be traced in the painting published here, which as regards its level of execution should be considered as a mature work by the artist, whose identity is not known to us. It can perhaps be dated to the years 1515-1520. The pose of the Madonna can be traced back to Leonardo da Vinci. The figure of John the Baptist is in some respects similar to the depiction of that saint in Michelangelo's Doni Tondo. The subtle portrayal of the landscape is particularly deserving of attention. It reflects the painter's interest in the work of Dutch and German artists.

Provenance: transferred to the Pushkin Museum in 1924 from the building of the Revolutionary Military Soviet (Moscow).