Virgin Mary with Child and Saint John

Scuola fiorentina XVI sec. d.C./ seconda metà

The scene is set in the open, as suggested by the vegetation and the patch of sky in the top right-hand corner: the Virgin Mary, seated, holds the Child Jesus on her knees, who is facing the observer, while behind her is Saint John, recognisable by his attributes, the fur robe and the cross. The artwork partially replicates Andrea del Sarto's Madonna col Bambino (Virgin Mary with Child) in the Palatine Gallery in Florence.

Technical information

Author: Scuola fiorentina
Title: Virgin Mary with Child and Saint John
Date: XVI sec. d.C./ seconda metà
Material and technique: Oil on panel
Size: 68x53 cm
Location: Palazzo Pretorio Museum
First Floor

Confirming the fortune of Sartesque models, the painter Alessandro Allori reports in 1579 that he copied the Madonna Borgherini (Borgherini Virgin Mary) - now considered lost - on canvas, along with other paintings by the master. The Prato panel, formerly attributed to Ludovico Buti, shows bright colours and wavy lines, according to the distinctive modules of mannerist painting. Although Ludovico Buti was trained in this field, he seems to have produced more moderate results. A comparison can be drawn with the Virgin Mary that he certainly painted, exhibited in this same room, in which the setting of the central group is similar, but where more elegant features, warmer colours and great attention to detail emerge. On the other hand, this Virgin Mary presents a more cursive and almost sketchy style of painting, which does not seem to be consistent with Buti's refined technique.