Madonna of the Cat (Barocci)

Madonna of the Cat
Artist	Federico Barocci
Year	1575
Medium	Oil on canvas
Movement	Renaissance, Mannerism
Dimensions	112.7 cm× 92.7 cm(44.4 in× 36.5 in)
Location	National Gallery, London

Madonna of the Cat or Madonna del gatto is an oil on canvas painting by Italian painter Federico Barocci, created c. 1575. It is held in the National Gallery of London. ^[1]

History and description

The painting was made for Count Antonio Brancaleoni of Piobbico. Engravings of the painting appeared by 1577.

The Holy Family, consisting of Joseph, Mary, a young John the Baptist, and an infant Jesus at Mary's breast, are portrayed in a domestic moment. John appears to be teasing the cat with a captured goldfinch, an allegoric symbol of Christ’s Passion. John's reed rests against a wall in the background. The main characters form a proto-Baroque-style diagonal to the right. In the style of Barocci, the cheeks are rosy. ^{[2] [3]}

Another version

There is another version of this painting in the Musée Condé, in Chantilly. This version, which the museum names The Holy Family with a Cat, does not contain any visible X-ray changes, unlike the one in London. The original work is believed to be therefore be the one in London, while the one in Chantilly would be a replica made in the artist's studio with the participation of his disciples. ^[4]

See also

• Study for the Madonna of the Cat

References

1. The Madonna of the Cat ('La Madonna del Gatto'), website of the National Gallery, London.
2. The Madonna of the Cat ('La Madonna del Gatto'), website of the National Gallery, London.
3. Judith W. Mann, Babette Bohn and Carol Plazzotta, Federico Barocci: Renaissance Master of Color and Line, New Haven, Yale University Press, p. 145
4. Musée Condé (French)