Madonna Addolorata by Sassoferrato

Sassoferrato (Giovanni Battista Salvi)
1609-1685 | Italian

Madonna Addolorata

Oil on canvas

Celebrated Italian artist Sassoferrato and his moving religious imagery are the epitome of the Baroque era. This stirring image of the Madonna—Sassoferrato’s most iconic subject—beautifully encapsulates the emotional drama and masterful naturalism for which this great painter is renowned.

This jewel-toned devotional painting highlights the mother of Jesus at her most devout, clasping her hands and bowing her head in quiet contemplation. Unadorned yet striking, she holds the gaze of the viewer and seems to glow from within, enshrined in her billowing robes and crown of light. This composition is exemplary of Sassoferrato's mature style, which combined the graceful proportions of classical sculpture with lifelike modeling and rich colors and textures. His masterful use of chiaroscuro (effects of light and dark) and his vibrant palette lend this depiction of Mary a captivating and awe-inspiring presence.

Widely known as "Sassoferrato" after the town in which he was born, the artist initially studied painting with his father Tarquino. His greatest influence, however, was the famed Raphael. Sassoferatto's masterful style—deliberately archaic with precise draftsmanship and an eloquent use of color—even led later historians to believe he was a contemporary protégé of the Renaissance master.

Sassoferrato's virtuosic talent was widely acclaimed in his day, as his work became highly influential and important during the Counter-Reformation. His moving renderings of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic figures were powerful icons for meditation and devotion, an important tool for the Catholic Church at this divisive time. Today, his works are found in the most important churches and prestigious museums in the world, including the National Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and most notably, a collection of 60 of his drawings in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. It is exceedingly rare to see this Baroque master on the market, as very few remain in private hands.

Circa 1650

Canvas: 27 3/4" high x 22 1/4" wide (70.49 x 56.44 cm)
Frame: 38 1/2" high x 32 3/8" wide (97.79 x 82.23 cm)

View the Dossier

Provenance:
Private Collection, Padua, Italy
Private Collection, Brescia, Italy
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
Federica Facchini and Massimo Pulini, Salvifica: Il Sassoferrato e Samorì tra rito e ferita, exh. cat., Palazzo degli Scalzi, Sassoferrato, Italy, 2022, no. 7, p. 82-83 (illustrated)
Massimo Pulini and Alberto Marchesin, L’anima silente: Il Sassoferrato e l’eredità di Raffaello, Sassoferrato, Italy, 2024, p. 35-36, 49 (illustrated)

Exhibited:
Palazzo degli Scalzi, Sassoferrato, Italy, Salvifica: Il Sassoferrato e Samorì tra rito e ferita, 28 October 2022-15 January 2023