Virgin and Child before a Curtain

1512 · Private collection

religious

In this panel, the painter retains the frontal pose of the Raphaelesque Madonna favoured in his early works, however, the position of the Christ Child, who leans in to embrace his mother while inclining his head and gazing to the right, brings an advanced sense of interaction and immediacy to the composition. Noteworthy is the precision of the mountainous landscape beyond, with its intricate representation of grass and foliage.

About the Artist

Garofalo

1481 – 1559

Garofalo (Benvenuto Tisi), Italian painter, active mainly in Ferrara. Vasari says that he twice visited Rome, and his work - derivative but beautifully crafted - was heavily influenced by Raphael. He was the first to paint in such a manner in Ferrara and was influential in spreading the High Renaissance style. His output was large (frescos, altarpieces, small devotional works, also a few mythologies); there are many examples in Ferrarese churches and, for example, in the National Gallery, London. In 1550 he went blind.

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