I have something else :) .. I know you will say that the original hangs in PN in Bologna .. This painting is from the 16th century (I once bought it in a gallery for my birthday). Dimensions H94.7cm W64.7cm which is one third of the painting in Italy to the millimeter. Oil on canvas. Artist's signature and date (1581) - that is several years earlier than the one in Italy .. I think this was a preparatory work for that big one. It's very dirty - I mean old brown varnish. I have never given it to renovation because it looks good as it is. A friend of mine from Oxford University has only recently been working on Saint Catherine's lips and neck. That's probably the only thing you need to fix. No one has ever seen it and valued it and whether it is authentic( in past 20-30 years) It would be strange if someone copied it in the artist's times.. Apart from Annibale signature there are many other descriptions and corrections and details that a counterfeiter would not do- probably . Everything can be seen only with UV and infrared light and with computer processing. Sometimes it is difficult to see something clearly from the photos due to my low quality equipment (iPhone,uv lamp from amazon). The photos can not be enlarged because the pixel get blurry. I think this painting is an interesting object for additional research. Frame is not original. Some restoration visible under UV but not visible on the painting or know about any done in the past.Signature on alter next to saint Catherine foot. Same place is like Jesus on the Cross with the plaque showing his wine above the cross (?) letters visible in the sequence, so my guess (photo)about 18 cm high -The Crucifixion -his work from 1581..)I think ,above signature in Latin “frago f “ -painted .. If compared to painting in Italy or preparatory drawing - very similar and nearly identical.This one is more in his style and the other one was more controversial and early attributed to Massari. Looks like has been relined at some point.
Dimensions
Acquired From:
Gallery/Dealer
Dear Przemyslaw, Thank you for your help and patience. My sincere apologies for the delay with the appraisal. The presented object appears to be a painting made in oil paint on canvas with the measurements of 94,7 x 64,7 cm. The painting depicts Madonna holding Jesus Christ and John Baptist in the company of the two saints St. John the Evangelist and St. Catherine of Alexandria. This painting was made after the original painting by Annibale Carracci (1560-1609). This painting is nowadays in Bologna and is dated 1593 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_and_Child_with_Saints_(Annibale_Carracci,_1593)). This painting is weaker in the depiction of the anatomical details, the postures of the persons, the depiction of the fabrics, and the architecture in comparison to the Bologna painting. It is nearly similar in the composition. These facts, same composition but much weaker execution is an argument that this painting was made by a follower of Caracci after the creation of the original painting in Bologna. It was probably made in Italy in the 17th or 18th century by an unknown artist. Comparable objects were recently offered and sold on the international auction market. This piece is in medium condition and there is no severe damage visible in the images provided. A fair market estimation would be between 3.000 to 6.000 USD. This estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparable items. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and may vary. With kind regards, George
