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Description: | The blue-eyed, golden haired infant Jesus and his mother gaze directly at the viewer. Jesus clasps a goldfinch to his breast. According to legend, a goldfinch pulled out one of the thorns from the crown of thorns at Christ's crucifixion and its plumage was splashed with Christ's blood. The presence and signification of the bird as a symbol of Christ's redeeming sacrifice is emphasised by Mary's gesture. Surrounding the Virgin and Child are St John the Baptist carrying a scroll and a cross, St Nicholas of Bari balancing three balls upon a book, a female saint and the archangel Raphael. Most of Boccaccino's work was executed during the period 1496-1518. This sacra conversazione is much influenced by contemporary Venetian painters, notably Giovanni Bellini. This composition is close to a similar one in the Palazzo Doria, Rome (no. 558) dated by Puerari to about 1510. | Subjects: | St Nicholas of Bari female saint) religion (Holy Family Archangel Raphael St John the Baptist | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: Boccaccino, Boccaccio (Italian painter, before 1466-1525) Æ Attributed to Previously attributed to Previtali, Andrea (Italian painter, ca. 1470-1528) | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=9168... | Go to resource |
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