SAVOLINI, CRISTOFORO

THE EXPULSION OF HAGAR

This was considered as a work by Pier Francesco Mola yet, as regards its style, the picture published here has nothing in common with works by that master and it has been subsequently identified by V.E.Markova. The canvas belongs to the relatively small group of works by Cristoforo Savolini – an artist from the town of Cesena in the La Marca region, which took shape under the influence of painters from the Bologna school, in particular Guercino and Cristoforo Serra. The picture is distinguished by its highly professional quality and the combination of a classical understanding of painting and the sensual authenticity of images intrinsic to Savolini's work. In this respect his work has affinities with the naturalism verging on Classicism characteristic for the painters of the Bologna school.

Provenance: acquired in 1929 from the State Museums Foundation.