Bartolomeo Ramenghi il Bagnacavallo, 1485 Bagnacavallo – 1542 Bologna

MADONNA WITH CHILD AND THE BOY JOHN Oil on poplar wood. Verso two horizontal strips. 57 x 47.5 cm. Accompanied by an expertise by Mauro U. Lucco, Bazzano, September 21, 2019, copy. The Raphael tradition is particularly noticeable in his Madonna paintings, which can be attributed to the fact that this important master created a type of Madonna that was to become influential for a long time. In the present painting, the figure of the Virgin is framed by a green velum, which allows a view of the landscape to the right. However, investigations in 2019 revealed that the figure of St. Joseph was positioned on the left-hand side of the painting, later painted over. Such additional figures, such as Joseph, Jerome or Saint Anne, are often found in Ramenghi's depictions of the Madonna. This change has resulted in a triangular composition. Mary's gaze is shown contemplating the future of her son, while the two children are communicating with each other regardless, with the infant Jesus pointing his finger upwards. In the expertise, the painting is placed in the vicinity of, among others, another painting, a painting of the Madonna in the Ospedale dei Pellegrini in Bagnacavallo, today in the town museum there, and, like the present painting, can be dated to around 1505. A.R. Bartolomeo Ramenghi il Bagnacavallo was a pupil of Francesco Francia (around 1450-1517). According to the art biographer Giorgio Vasari, he worked in Rome as an assistant to Raphael (1483-1520), whose style he retained in his works, although the influence of Dosso Dossi (1489-1541) can soon be seen in his work. Works by his hand can be found in several important public collections, such as his "Madonna and Child" in the Dresden Gemäldegalerie, his portrait "Louis XI of France" in the Berlin Museum or "Madonna with Saints" in the Bologna Pinacoteca. His altarpiece "Christ on the Cross with Three Saints" can be seen in the church of San Pietro in Bologna. (14009411) (11) Bartolomeo Ramenghi il Bagnacavallo, 1485 Bagnacavallo- 1542 Bologna THE VIRGIN AND CHRIST CHILD WITH INFANT SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Oil on poplar wood. Two parquetting slats on the reverse. 57 x 47.5 cm. Accompanied by an expert's report by Mauro U. Lucco, Bazzano, 21 September 2019, in copy.