Adoration of the Child

This is the most famous work by the Dutch painter, in Italy from 1610-1622, who for his interest in light effects was called Gherardo delle Notti (Gherardo of the Nights). In this painting it is as though there is an artificial light which shines forth from the Child who Mary is showing to the angels; an idea developed from a theme which was already present in sixteenth century Italian painting as seen in Correggio's Night. The painting was documented for the first time in the inventory of Villa Poggio a Caiano in 1784 and has been in the Uffizi since 1796. There are five paintings by this artist in the Medici collections.