AFTER LUCA GIORDANO (NAPLES 1634-1705)

AFTER LUCA GIORDANO (NAPLES 1634-1705)
The birth of the Virgin
oil on canvas
39.5 x 31cm

Held in a carved and gilded Bolognese 17th century style frame, with stiff leave sight-edge, imbricated leaf and berry course in bold relief, leaf outer edge in high relief.
A mid-late 18th century copy after the altarpiece by Luca Giordano in the church of S. Maria della Salute, Venice.

Giordano produced three altarpieces for the church of Santa Maria della Salute depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Of these three, only the Assumption of the Virgin was signed and dated to 1667; stylistic differences suggest that the other two paintings, the Birth of the Virgin and the Presentation of the Virgin, were in fact executed at a later date. In any case, all three works were completed by 1674.

Located over the third altar to the right after entering the church, the scene of the Birth of the Virgin shows Mary’s aged parents, Joachim and Anne, watching as midwives bathe the newborn baby. In the heavens above, God the Father observes the scene; he is surrounded by a host of angels.Click here to share: