Lot 296: ANTONIO VIVIANI, CALLED IL SORDO

THE INFANT CHRIST

7 1/8 by 4 3/4 in.; 17.7 by 12.1 cm.

oil on panel

We are grateful to Andrea Emiliani and Keith Christiansen who, independently, have suggested an attribution for this painting to Antonio Viviani, a student of Federico Barrocci.

The composition is based on a lost work by Barrocci of circa 1597 commissioned by the Duke of Urbino, and subsequently given to Pope Clement VIII. An anonymous copy is in the National Gallery, Glasgow and related drawings are in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no. 2870, recto), the Uffizi, Florence (inv. no. 11641F, recto) and the Martin von Wagner Museum der Universitat, Würzburg (inv. no. 7172). (1)

1. See A. Emiliani, Federico Barocci, 2008, vol. II, pp. 209-10, cat. nos. 65, 65.1, 65.2 and 65.3)