245 - Lorenzo SABATINI (Bologna, c. 1530 – Rome, 1576)

Lorenzo SABATINI (Bologna, c. 1530 – Rome, 1576) The Holy Family with Saint Jerome Poplar panel, two boards, reinforced Height: 71 cm Width: 57.5 cm Old label on the reverse attributing the work to Siciolante da Sermonetta Provenance: - Auction in Vienna, Dorotheum, February 4, 1950, lot 134 (attributed to Siciolante da Sermoneta). Lorenzo Sabatini is one of the most important painters of Emilian Mannerism, belonging to the generation that preceded and paved the way for the arrival of the Carracci. We thank Professor Daniele Benati for suggesting the attribution of this painting to this artist, based on a digital photograph, via email on June 18, 2026, and for providing the following dating: “It seems to me to be a fairly early work (circa 1555) by Lorenzo Sabatini, who was still heavily influenced by Tibaldi.” Our panel dates from the artist’s early years in Bologna, where he drew inspiration from the works of Prospero Fontana and, above all, Pellegrino Tibaldi. Notable works from this early period include *Judith with the Head of Holofernes* (Bologna, Banca del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna), the Circumcision (Greenville, Bob Jones University), the Dispute of Saint Catherine (Bologna, Pinacoteca Nazionale), and the Holy Family (drawing, Darmstadt, Hessisches Landesmuseum). Subsequently, Sabatini completed his training in Florence under the tutelage of Giorgio Vasari during the 1560s, and later worked as his collaborator, notably on the decoration of the Sala Regia in the Vatican. He blended these two influences with an appreciation for the elegance of Parmigianino’s works, He received a commission from Pope Gregory XIII to paint frescoes adorning the walls of the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican, framing Michelangelo’s major works, while Federico Zuccari was entrusted with decorating the ceiling. Upon returning to Bologna between 1566 and 1572, he decorated several religious buildings, including Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Giacomo.