Guercino (1591-1666) La Sibilla Samia (The Samian Sibyl with a Putto) 1651 Oil on canvas, 218.5 × 180 cm National Gallery, London The Samian Sibyl was one of 12 pagan sibyls (or priestesses) who, like the Old Testament prophets, were…
Guercino (1591-1666) Elia nutrito dai corvi (Elijah fed by Ravens) 1620 Oil on canvas, 195 x 156.5 cm National Gallery, London The monumental figure in this painting is Elijah, an Old Testament prophet who lived in the northern kingdom of…
Bernini, Gian Lorenzo (1598-1680) Angel with the Superscription (Standing Angel with Scroll) c.1667–1668 Terracotta, 28.9 x 17.1 x 13.8 cm Fogg Museum, Cambridge, MA
Botticelli, Sandro (c.1445-1510) Madonna Bardi (Madonna and Child Enthroned) 1484–1485 Tempera on poplar, 185 x 180 cm Gemäldegalerie, Berlin The scheme of composition of the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by saints and viewed in a unified, square picture, became extremely popular…
Raffaello (1483-1520) Madonna Terrranuova (Mary with the Child, John the Baptist and a Holy Boy) c.1505 Oil on poplar wood, diameter 88.7 cm Gemäldegalerie, Berlin SIGNATURE / INSCRIPTION: Ribbon (EC)CE AGNIVS (DE) Of the five paintings of the Virgin Mary by…
Van Eyck, Jan (c.1390-1441) Portrait of a Man (Léal Souvenir) 1432 Oil on oak, 33.3 x 18.9 cm National Gallery, London This small portrait is puzzling in many ways. We don‘t know who this man was or why he is holding…
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Ritratto di Ginevra de’ Benci (Portrait of Ginevra de’ Benci) c.1474–1478 Oil on panel 38.1 x 37 cm National Gallery of Art, Washington This square portrait shows the head and shoulders of a young woman in front…