The Virgin with Child and a Saint

Giovanni Lanfranco made his way in Rome at the beginning of the seventeenth century together with the Carracci, becoming one of the great protagonists of the Baroque period. This painting has been attributed to him thanks to the comparison with some of his other works such as the Madonna with Child and Saints in Ripatransone cathedral, and the Coronation of the Virgin in the Roman church of Saint Augustine. The strongly contrasted light of this painting and its shades of colour are in fact in accordance with the artist's manner. The old man on the Virgin's right hand should be identified as Saint Joseph.