Francesco Albani (1578–1660), Follower of - De Heilige Familie met Sint-Elisabeth en de jonge Johannes de Doper - NO RESERVE

Francesco Albani (1578–1660) (18th follower)
The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist
Medium: oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: canvas 51 × 37 cm – with frame 63.5 × 49.5 cm
Style: Italian Baroque

Introduction

This painting is a particularly refined eighteenth-century imitation of The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist by Francesco Albani (1578–1660), whose original masterpiece is located in the Musée des Beaux-Arts et d’Archéologie in Besançon (France). The imitator has created a work with remarkable technical skill and a sense for Albani's soft, harmonious style, bringing the spiritual refinement of Italian Baroque back to life.

Albani, from Bologna and a pupil of Annibale Carracci, was known as the 'Raphael of the Baroque' for his ideal beauty, graceful figures, and serene devotional compositions. This canvas pays tribute to that refined aesthetic, where classical clarity and religious tenderness come together in harmony.

Description of the scene

The painting depicts an intimate moment within the Holy Family: the Virgin Mary lovingly presenting the Christ Child to the young John the Baptist, under the watchful eye of Saint Elizabeth and a contemplative Joseph. The scene takes place in a semi-architectural setting with columns opening to a gently rolling landscape. The combination of indoor space and open horizon gives the work depth and an atmosphere of contemplative calm.

The interplay of the figures is intimate and natural. Young Johannes embraces the Child with a childlike tenderness that emphasizes their spiritual connection. Maria’s gesture – gentle, protective, and maternal – forms the emotional center of the scene. Jozef rests his head in his hand, in a calm, almost philosophical reflection, while Sint-Elisabeth observes with subdued devotion.

The background, with its classical columns, clear sky, and deep green landscape, reflects Albani’s pursuit of balance between human emotion and timeless ideals. The light is diffuse and soft; the golden glow accentuates the faces and hands, creating a poetic intimacy that immediately appeals to the viewer.

Technique, material, and palette

The painter used oil paint on canvas, with a carefully built-up layer of paint in transparent glazes, as is characteristic of the Bolognese school. The brushwork is fine and controlled, without unnecessary bravura, revealing the influence of Albani’s classical precision.

The color palette is evenly composed of warm earth tones, deep blue ultramarine, carmine red, and soft ochers, which together form a harmonious unity. The transition between light and shadow is subtly modeled, giving the bodies a rounded, lively plasticity. The delicate skin tones, combined with the saturated draperies, impart an intimate, almost sacred glow.

Under UV light examination, retouchings are visible, mainly in the area around previous restorations and along the contours of the figures. The craquelures are consistent with the age of the canvas. An old repair is visible on the front, with slight bulging around the repaired area. The frame, a heavy dark wooden frame with a gilded inner rim, shows a missing ornament part at the bottom but retains its aesthetic value and historical character.

The artist and his influence

Francesco Albani was born in Bologna in 1578 and received his training in the influential Carracci workshop, where the baroque style of clarity, balance, and academic beauty was shaped. Albani worked in Rome on important commissions for papal and aristocratic clients and developed his own lyrical interpretation of religious themes.

His body of work, centered on refinement and subdued emotion, had a significant influence on artists of the later seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. His way of infusing celestial scenes with human tenderness inspired numerous followers in Italy, France, and the Southern Netherlands. This eighteenth-century imitation reflects the lasting appreciation for his oeuvre, in which Baroque is no longer dramatic or monumental, but rather poetic and spiritually balanced.

Stylistic and art historical context

The work belongs to the tradition of Bolognese baroque, in which artists like Guido Reni, Domenichino, and Albani sought a reconciliation of natural grace and classical harmony. Their paintings display a form of religious elegance that deviates from the intense emotionality of Caravaggio or the theatrical grandeur of Rubens.

This imitation demonstrates a refined understanding of that tradition. The composition is compact and symmetrical, the use of color is soft and bright, and the figures move with a graceful control reminiscent of the classicism of Carlo Cignani, Nicolas Poussin, Carlo Maratta, and Guido Reni. Within this context, the painting serves as an excellent example of the transition from Italian Baroque to the more contemplative, academic sentiment of the eighteenth century.

Condition and presentation

The canvas is in a stable, presentable condition. Signs of age are visible, such as craquelure, slight bulging around an old, poorly executed restoration, and scattered retouches that become apparent under UV light. The paint layer shows an even varnish that keeps the colors vibrant and respects the original character of the work. The frame is antique, made of dark wood with a gilded inner edge, and features a small missing ornament at the bottom.

In its current state, the painting presents an impressive, authentic, and decorative work that exerts a significant appeal both from an art historical and aesthetic perspective.

An exceptionally refined eighteenth-century imitation of Francesco Albani, in which the tender poetry and classical harmony of the Bolognese baroque are fully realized.
No reserve – exclusive offer.

The work 'The Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the young John the Baptist,' wooden robbellist, with gilded finish (small piece of gilded robbel finish missing, later retouched: see photo).

Total dimensions: 63.5x49.5cm
Canvas dimensions: 51x37cm

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