Artwork
Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Saints John the Evangelist, Catherine of Alexandria, and Anthony Abbot, and a Saint Reading a Book
Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Saints John the Evangelist, Catherine of Alexandria, and Anthony Abbot, and a Saint Reading a Book is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Defendente Ferrari. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These figures are identified by traditional attributes: John by a chalice, Catherine by a wheel, Anthony by a staff, and the reading saint by a book.
The composition shows the Virgin Mary seated on a throne holding the infant Christ, flanked by saints John the Evangelist, Catherine of Alexandria, and Anthony Abbot, with an additional figure engaged in reading. These figures are identified by traditional attributes: John by a chalice, Catherine by a wheel, Anthony by a staff, and the reading saint by a book. The arrangement emphasizes the sacred narrative of the Nursing Madonna, highlighting the Virgin’s role as nurturer and intercessor within a communal heavenly intercession.
Symbolically, the saints represent distinct virtues, John’s evangelistic mission, Catherine’s wisdom and martyrdom, and Anthony’s monastic authority, contributing to the devotional focus on divine protection and salvation.
History & Provenance
The Enthroned Virgin and Child by Defendente Ferrari is dated to 1525, aligning with the artist’s known period of activity in the early sixteenth century.
The painting entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art through the John G. Johnson Collection, a major bequest assembled by the Philadelphia lawyer and collector John Gravers Johnson (1841–1917). Johnson acquired the work prior to his death, and it was transferred to the museum as part of his 1917 bequest, becoming a core example of northern Italian religious painting in the institution’s holdings.
The painting is held by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it is accessioned as part of the John G. Johnson Collection.
It has been exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in the 2005–2006 presentation “The John G. Johnson Collection: A History and Selected Works.”
Overview
Enthroned Virgin and Child, with Saints John the Evangelist, Catherine of Alexandria, and Anthony Abbot, and a Saint Reading a Book is a 1525 painting by Defendente Ferrari, an Italian artist active in Piedmont. The work features the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child enthroned, surrounded by four saints.
Technique & Style
Characterized by bright, vibrant robes and a golden throne, the painting reflects Mannerist influences. The composition incorporates a checkerboard-patterned floor and a distant, subdued landscape background, with the use of golden halos and soft, glowing light contributing to a serene, sacred atmosphere.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Defendente Ferrari (c. 1480/1485 – c. 1540) was an Italian painter active in Piedmont. His work marks the transition from late Gothic traditions to Renaissance art in the region.
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