Catalogue Roberti Fine Art, TEFAF Maastricht 2026 (1) compressed - Flipbook - Page 96
27
BARBARA SIRANI
Bologna 1638-1665
The Madonna and Child with the Infant
Saint John the Baptist
oil on copper, oval
15 x 11.5 cm.
painted circa 1660
PROVENANCE
Private collection, Italy;
Whence acquired.
The Virgin is shown seated with her hands joined in prayer, her head wrapped in a veil that falls
over her shoulders and forms a band across her breast, above the customary red garment. The
blue mantle, resting on her right arm, covers her entire lap, where she supports a cushion and a
white cloth upon which the Christ Child is seated. As He turns His gaze toward His Mother, the
naked Child embraces the young Saint John at His side. The latter carries on his shoulder the reed
cross with its scroll; his complexion is slightly darker than that of Jesus, and there is a clear
resemblance between the two. John is slightly older than His cousin, as the Scriptures describe.
96
