1596
oil
copper
From the collection of Galleria Borghese
Le Sommeil de Jésus is a 1596 oil by Lavinia Fontana, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Galleria Borghese.
This painting depicts a serene scene of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by angels and other figures, in a darkened room. The Virgin Mary is the central figure, dressed in a pink robe and blue veil, with her eyes cast downward. In the foreground, a sleeping infant lies on a bed, while a figure to the right of the Virgin Mary appears to be holding a flower or object. The background of the painting is dominated by dark shadows, with only glimpses of the room's furnishings visible. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and volume in the scene, drawing the viewer's eye to the Virgin Mary and the sleeping infant. For more on this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Lavinia Fontana (24 August 1552 – 11 August 1614) was an Italian Mannerist painter active in Bologna and Rome.
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