About this lot

Description

Late 16th century follower of Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, called Parmigianino

The Mystic Marriage of St Catherine – Virgin and Child with St Joseph and St Catherine of Alexandria receiving the ring
oil on panel
58 x 47cm

Provenance:
Christie’s, London, 6 July 1889, lot 107, as ‘Parmegiano [sic] The Marriage of St. Catherine’, when acquired by Horace Smith-Bosanquet of Broxbournebury for £7.7.0,
Thence by descent

Parmigianino painted the subject of the Mystic Marriage of St Catherine at least four times (see versions at The National Gallery, London; The Louvre, Paris; Bardi, Church of Santa Maria Addolorata and The National Gallery of Parma). The present composition seems to be unknown from drawings by Parmigianino or any later copies, but is clearly very closely indebted to the great Mannerist master from Parma.

The painting is executed in oil on a thick wooden panel support, probably poplar, with two tapered battens set into dovetail grooves. The panel has some evidence of old woodworm damage and has developed a slight vertical curvature. The paint layers have some cracking around the edges. In the main areas of the composition the paint layers are in a good, stable condition. There are scattered areas of overpaint across the surface which are reasonably well matched to the original but matte. The varnish is dull and slightly yellowed. There are scattered fly spots across the surface.

Framed 81.5 x 70.5cm

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