1 - Virgin and Child with kneeling donor [Antonio Maria Pallavicini (1468-1516)], presented by his patron Saint Anthony the Great (Saint Anthony Abbot) and Saint Catherine of Alexandria [patron Saint of Catherine Fieschi, mother of Antonio Maria Pallavicini].

Virgin and Child with kneeling donor [Antonio Maria Pallavicini (1468-1516)], presented by his patron Saint Anthony the Great (Saint Anthony Abbot) and Saint Catherine of Alexandria [patron Saint of Catherine Fieschi, mother of Antonio Maria Pallavicini]. Illumination on parchment, tempera, watercolor, ink and liquid gold. Italy, Lombardy, first decade of the 16th century (c. 1500-1510 ?) Attributable to Giovanni Antonio da Brescia (active in Mantua and Milan circa 1475-1525), collaborator of Giovanni Pietro Birago (illuminator and engraver active in Milan, Brescia and Venice 1471-1513), an artistic personality now associated with the Master of the Barozzi Breviary (active in Veneto circa 1475, then in Rome and Milan until the first quarter of the 16th century). Leaf glued in full on a copper plate. Verso not visible. Good overall condition: some loss of pictorial surface and rubbing in the illuminated border. Some occasional stains or rubbing to the main illumination, but not serious. Coat of arms perceptible on three shields (five points gules equipollé to four argent, on a chief or an eagle sable), overpainted with liquid gold. Pallavicini family coat of arms. Dimensions with border: 358 x 242 mm; dimensions of miniature alone: 286 x 190 mm. A true discovery, this work has never been seen before. Painted in the Mantegnesque style on parchment, this illumination is a small, isolated tableautin. Its size suggests a small private devotional painting, or a representation of the patron for diplomatic purposes. We can't rule out the possibility that this portrait was conceived as a frontispiece illumination in a large-format manuscript work, but it seems more likely that it is an example - extremely rare among works associated with Lombardy - of a stand-alone painting on vellum. Full description in the enclosed catalog. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LOT IS SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC CONDITIONS: Please contact the auction house if you wish to take part in the live sale, leave a fixed order, request a telephone line or take part in the indoor sale. A deposit of 30% of the low estimate must be paid at least 48 hours before the sale, if you wish to bid. This deposit must be paid by bank transfer. Bids from bidders who do not meet these specific conditions will be disregarded.

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