Sacra Conversazione with Donors

In the bottom right corner of this painting are portraits of the patrons or donors, evidently a married couple. They wear contemporary dress and gaze in veneration at the Holy Family, accompanied by saints John the Baptist and Catherine of Alexandria. The antique draperies of the sacred figures are painted in colors of very high key, throwing them into stark relief from the idyllic landscape.

Palma Vecchio specialized in paintings of this genre, called Sacra Conversazione. These works were typically private and represented the patrons together with the Virgin and Child, plus a variety of saints. Palma’s works in this genre are recognized by their horizontal compositions and powerful colors, influenced by Titian. In 1841, the Neapolitan theatrical star Domenico Barbaja sold this painting to the city’s ruling Bourbon dynasty.