Pietro Vannucci, called PeruginoWilliamson, George C.
History
Pietro Vannucci, called Perugino
Williamson, George C.
Perugino, approximately 1450-1523
The divine Child stands erect on a stone balustrade supported by the
hands of the Madonna, who is by =His= side, and playing with a lock
of her hair. St. John stands on the ground and has clasped hands and
gazes in adoration at the Christ.
_This picture, which is painted in tempera, was obtained by the late
Mr. Beckford in Perugia, and purchased of him for the Gallery in
1841._
On the hem of the mantle of the Virgin is inscribed: =PETRVS
PERVGINVS.=
=The Virgin adoring the Divine Child.= Panel; centre 2·1 × 4·2. Side
panels, each 1·10 × 4·2. [288.]
The left panel is inscribed below: =PETRVS PERVSINVS PINXIT.=
These three panels were originally in the Certosa di Pavia.
_These three panels were purchased from the Certosa by one of the
Melzi family in 1786, and bought of Duke Melzi of Milan for the
Gallery in 1856._
=The Virgin and Child and two Saints.= Panel. 6·0 x 4·11. [1075.]
This picture was ordered of Perugino by the testamentary executors
of Giovanni Schiavone, a master carpenter of Perugia, in 1507, and
was executed within that year, when it was placed over the altar of
their chapel in S. Maria Nuova (de' Servi) in an elaborate carved
but ungilt framework, said to be designed by Pietro himself. After
the demise of the executors and their heirs the chapel reverted to
the Frati Serviti, owners of the church, who subsequently sold the
chapel with its contents to the Cecconi family, at whose extinction
it was inherited by the family della Penna.
In 1822 Baron Fabrizio della Penna removed the picture to his palace
in Perugia, leaving the frame _in situ_, in which at the same time
was inserted a copy on canvas executed by a young Perugian painter,
Giuseppe Carattoli.
_The picture was purchased for the National Gallery from the Baron
della Penna in 1879._
=The Baptism of Our Lord.= Panel, 1·0 × 1·11. [1431.]
St. John the Baptist in the centre of the picture is pouring water
from a cup on the head of the Saviour, who stands with His feet in
the river. Two angels kneel to the right and two to the left, and
behind them again stand four of the disciples, two on either side.
See Chapter I. as to this picture, which I cannot accept as a work
of Perugino. It is painted in oil upon an unprepared panel.
_Bought in Rome in 1894 for £400._
=The Adoration of the Shepherds.= Fresco transferred to canvas. 8·2 x
19·5. [1441.]
In the centre the infant Christ lies, supported by a cushion on a
purple drapery on the open ground. Behind is a shed surrounded by a
fence, within which cattle are lying. On the right and left kneel
the Holy Virgin and St. Joseph, and behind them the shepherds
approach with offerings. An angel is on either side in the sky.
This fresco was removed from the church at Fontignano in 1843, and
is said to be the last work of the painter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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