The Flight into Egypt - Gregorio de Ferrari (1647-1726) and workshop

Oil on copper

Very beautiful period frame (XVIIth) in blackened, carved and gilded wood. Model called Salvator Rosa.

Dimensions with frame : 45 x 52 cm. The copper alone : 27 x 34 cm.

This Italian painting, executed at the crossroads of the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, represents the rest of the Holy Family in a landscape, fleeing to Egypt guided by the angels. Under the tender gaze of Joseph, an angel presents Mary with a rolled up white cloth. On the right, the other angel waters the donkey near a well.

"Shortly after the birth of the child Jesus, the Holy Family, from Judea, fled to Egypt to escape King Herod, who put to death all children under two years of age (Massacre of the Innocents), wanting to eliminate the future "king of the Jews", an angel having warned Joseph in a dream. They will return seven years later, also warned by the angel, of Herod's death.

This subject, of course, has been treated many times by the ancient masters. But here, this small painting of "private devotion" that we propose is particularly refined! The composition, the delicate color palette, the modeling of the faces and its beautiful period frame, form a quality ensemble.

By its very baroque style and its palette of acidulous and frank colors, we direct ourselves towards the Genoese artist:

Gregorio de Ferrari (1647-1726), who came to Genoa to learn law, he turned to painting and apprenticed with Domenico Fiasella from 1664 to 1669, whom he assisted with the altarpiece of St. Clare Repelling the Saracens (1667, Montoggio).
He left for Parma from 1669 to 1673 and worked on frescoes in quadratura.
He finally joined his brother-in-law Domenico Piola in his renowned workshop called Casa Piola. They worked together on the frescoes of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato in Genoa. Their work is clearly in the style of Cortona, Correggio and Castiglione. Their frescoes in the vaults on the second floor of the gallery of the Palazzo Rosso in Genoa, Five Senses for Four Seasons, are famous.
His masterpiece is the Death of Santa Scolastica in the Cathedral of San Lorenzo in Genoa.
His pupil was Francesco Costa.
With his wife, Margherita Piola, they had a son, Lorenzo De Ferrari, who also became a painter.

Very nice original condition.