Who painted Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri?

Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri was painted by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta in probably 1725 or after.

Where can I see Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri?

Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri?

Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta , 1725

Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. It dates from 1725 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Mary and the Christ Child appear to Saint Philip Neri in an intimate scene lit by soft light. Giovanni Battista Piazzetta used gentle color to hold a sense of calm and keep attention on the figures. Oil on canvas, 1725.

History & Provenance

Its exhibition history includes the 1941 _Mostra di pittura veneziana del settecento_ in Venice, where it was shown while in a private Roman collection.

The work was likely executed around 1725 or shortly thereafter by Giovanni Battista Piazzetta. By 1941 it resided in a private collection in Rome and was included in the exhibition Mostra di pittura veneziana del settecento in Venice that year. In January 1950 the Antiquaria gallery in Rome, then operated by Alessandro Morandotti, consigned the painting to Adolph Loewi in Los Angeles.

Loewi sold the painting on 12 May 1950 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York, which in 1961 donated it to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., as part of the Kress Collection.

The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., as part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection with accession number 1961.1.13. It entered the Gallery in 1961 as a gift from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Its exhibition history includes the 1941 _Mostra di pittura veneziana del settecento_ in Venice, where it was shown while in a private Roman collection.

Overview

Giovanni Battista Piazzetta's "Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri," painted around 1725, is an oil on canvas work characteristic of the early 18th-century Venetian school. This devotional painting depicts a sacred vision, where the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child manifest before Saint Philip Neri. It exemplifies the artist's focus on religious narratives and his distinctive approach to light and shadow, which creates an intimate and contemplative atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a spiritual encounter, with the Virgin Mary and the infant Christ appearing to Saint Philip Neri. This visionary moment places the viewer in an intimate space, emphasizing the saint's devotion and the divine presence. Such sacred narratives were central to religious art of the Rococo period, reflecting the spiritual sensibilities and devotional practices prevalent in early 18th-century Italy.

Technique & Style

Piazzetta employed oil on canvas to create this work, utilizing a distinctive chiaroscuro technique. The artist's use of soft light and gentle colors contributes to the painting's calm and intimate atmosphere, drawing the viewer's focus directly to the central figures. This controlled illumination and subtle palette were characteristic of Piazzetta's style, allowing him to convey profound spiritual moments with a quiet intensity.

Context

Created during the Rococo period, this painting reflects the era's engagement with religious themes and decorative aesthetics. Piazzetta, an Italian artist active in the early 18th century, was renowned for his devotional works. His approach to sacred subjects, often rendered with a sense of quiet drama and spiritual depth, resonated with the prevailing tastes for art that combined piety with a refined visual sensibility.