13 - After Domenico ZAMPIERI, known as “Dominiquin” (1581–1641)

After Domenico ZAMPIERI, known as “Dominiquin” (1581–1641) Children at Play, from *The Madonna of the Rosary* Oil on panel. H_32 cm W_42.5 cm Bears the modern inscription “Museum Baltimore Prop.” Provenance: probably the Baltimore Museum of Fine Arts Our panel depicts the two children playing in the foreground of the Madonna of the Rosary, painted beginning in 1617 by Le Dominiquin. A true tour de force on the artist’s part, the painting took several years to complete. Dominiquin had received this commission from the Ratta family for their chapel in the church of San Giovanni in Monte, located across from a chapel housing Raphael’s *The Ecstasy of Saint Cecilia*—in other words, with the goal of creating a painting capable of standing up to comparison. The painting remained in the chapel until 1796, when it was seized by the French and taken to Paris, where it was restored. It did not return to Italy until the fall of the Empire in 1815. Our reproduction, painted with great finesse, captures the success of Domeniquin’s composition and its constituent details. Expert: Artéon Expert: Quentin BONNEFOY - Artéon