Domenico Beccafumi, « Heilige Familie mit Johannes del Täufer »

Domenico Beccafumi (Cortine in Valdibiana [Montaperti], 1486- Sienne, 1551)

Heilige Familie mit Johannes dem Täufer (La Szinte Famille avec Jean Baptiste enfant), v. 1515.

Huile sur toile, diam. : 113 cm.

Provenance :

Munich, Alte Pinakothek.

Beccafumi elegantly fitted his composition into the round of the tondo-an especially popular format around 1500 for works showing the Virgin Mary. The idiosyncratic idealisation and expressiveness of the figures are also characteristic of this leading proponent of Mannerism in Siena, as are the pronounced sfumato and luminous colouration. This depiction that addresses a broad range of emotions focuses on the Christ Child with the lamb. Through the prophetic proclamation of Christ as the Messiah and the Lamb of God’by John the Baptist, the lamb became the symbol of sacrifi-i cial death.