1609th century Follower of Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as Sassoferrato (Sassoferrato, 1685 – Rome, XNUMX), Holy Family

early nineteenth century

Follower of Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as Sassoferrato (Sassoferrato, 1609 – Rome, 1685)

Holy Family

Oil on canvas, 80 x 88 cm

With frame, 114 x 120 cm

Giovanni Battista Salvi, better known as Sassoferrato from the name of his hometown in the Marche, was a significant exponent of the Baroque in central Italy. His artistic training began in the workshop of his father, Tarquinio Salvi, also a painter, some of whose works remain in the church of San Francesco in Sassoferrato. It is believed that he had a brief period of apprenticeship with Domenichino, an influence that is reflected in the classicism and serenity of his compositions. Having moved to Rome around 1641, Sassoferrato distinguished himself for a pictorial style that looked to the classicism of the Renaissance, in particular to Raphael. This predilection for a more archaic artistic language made him a clearly distinguishable figure in the context of the full Roman Baroque, dominated by a dynamism and more accentuated scenographic effects. His production was vast and focused mainly on religious themes, in particular images of the Virgin Mary. His Madonnas are characterized by a great purity of line, delicate colors and an expression of sweet and serene devotion, which met with the favor of religious and private clients. Among his most famous works are the Madonna of the Rosary (1643), an altarpiece for the basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome, considered his masterpiece, and the Madonna Orante, preserved in Sassoferrato. Despite his more contemplative style and less in line with the dominant trends of his time, Sassoferrato enjoyed an undeniable fame and his works were appreciated for their elegance and profound spirituality. He died in Rome in 1685, leaving a corpus of works that testify to a singular interpretation of classicism in the context of the Italian seventeenth century.

The painting in question, by an artist who at the beginning of the nineteenth century took up the calm atmospheres of Calvi's painting, takes up the Holy Family of the Galleria Doria Pamphilj in Rome. The Holy Family of Sassoferrato preserved at the Galleria Doria Pamphilj in Rome is a work that well represents the artist's intimate and devotional style, best embodying his ability to instill a profound serenity and sweetness in sacred figures.

The figures, depicted half-length or full-length, are placed in a collected and intimate space, which invites contemplation. The faces of the characters are characterized by a quiet devotion. The Virgin Mary has a particularly sweet and thoughtful expression, turned towards the Child. Saint Joseph is portrayed with an air of serene protection and humility. The Child Jesus, depicted at a tender age, dozes innocently in his mother's arms. Sassoferrato's palette is composed of light and bright colors, with a predilection for the tones of blue, red and white, creating a visual harmony that contributes to the sense of peace and spirituality. The drawing is accurate and the lines are soft, helping to define the forms with clarity and elegance, reflecting the influence of Raphael's classicism. The composition as a whole, with the close figures and the restrained gestures, creates an atmosphere of recollection and family intimacy, inviting the viewer to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation and the sacredness of the family. The Holy Family in Rome is an opportunity to appreciate the mastery of an artist who, in the midst of the Baroque, was able to maintain a dialogue with the Renaissance tradition, offering a personal and touching interpretation of sacred themes. The reproduction of this subject in the nineteenth century is a clear testimony to the great visual success of this artist's compositions centuries after his period of activity.