Unknown 17th-18th Century Painter

Virgin and Child

Oil on canvas, (based on Raffaello's 'Bridgewater Madonna')      

$6500

VIRGIN and CHILD based on ‘Bridgewater Madonna’ by Raffaello

This ‘Virgin and Child’-themed oil on canvas painting was most likely created in the late 17^th or early 18^th Century by an unknown art student inspired by the ‘Bridgewater Madonna’ of Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (Italian, 1483-1520) painted in ca. 1507-08 (below image).   Raffaello’s human portraiture was much admired, studied and copied by art students of this era and it is assumed this particular painting was based on Raffaello’s original painting,

Raffaello’s painting was in part inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.  It was an oil painting on wood transferred to canvas with dimensions of 81 x 56 cm.   It long belonged to Seignelay d’Orleans in France before being acquired in the late 18^th century by John Egerton, 3^rd Earl of Bridgewater and becoming a part of the Ellesmere Collection at Bridgewater House, 14 Cleveland Row, St. James, London.  Raffaello’s painting became known as the ‘Bridgewater Madonna’ and was subsequently acquired after World War II by The National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland.     

This Raffaello-inspired painting was initially in a rectangular portrait frame until being placed in the current oval frame by a subsequent owner who may have contemplated its full restoration as an oval-shaped portrait.