56 - GIORGIO BARBARELLA DI CASTELFRANCO, known as GIORGIONE

GIORGIO BARBARELLA DI CASTELFRANCO, known as GIORGIONE (Castefranco Veneto, 1478–1510) Our Lady of Sorrows Oil on canvas transferred to panel Old gilded wooden frame. The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Giorgione is the extremely smooth transition between light and shadow, devoid of sharp contours—a technique known as “tonalism” introduced in Venice by the great master from Castelfranco Veneto himself. The face emerges from the darkness of the background through subtle shading that lends an intimate and psychological atmosphere. The languid expression, the downcast gaze, and the pensive demeanor are distinctive traits of Giorgione’s figures (as in the famous Double Portrait at Palazzo Venezia). There is a strong sense of mystery and restrained emotional engagement, typical of the lyrical ideal of the master from Castelfranco. The contrast between the bright red of the cloak and the dark tones of the background, combined with the white shirt draped across the chest in soft folds, evokes the color palette typical of the Venetian masters of the first decade of the 16th century. The traditional attribution on the back of the panel further attests to its high quality. 55 x 44 cm.