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The Madonna and Child with an Escaped Goldfinch

Guercino

1634

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Religious

Dominant colour

The Madonna and Child with an Escaped Goldfinch is a 1634 chalk by Guercino, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Guercino
When & what style?: 1634 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a woman holding a baby, with a small bird flying near her head. Her hair is loose, and she’s dressed in simple, flowing clothes. The lines are rough and quick, almost like a hurried drawing. The bird looks like it just escaped—maybe the artist caught that moment on purpose. The red chalk gives everything a warm, earthy tone. Next, look up Guercino to see how he used light and movement in other works.

About the artist

Artist

Guercino

Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.

See the richer artist page