Lot 2015 Dα

The scene is set in a domestic interior with starkly defined perspective; the beams of the ceiling act as a counterpoint to those of the floor and direct the viewer's eye towards the centre of the image, where the diagonals created by the figures' gestures meet. The double arch in the background opens up onto the faint outline of a mountain landscape. The clear and solid composition is strongly reminiscent of the Venetian Quattrocento tradition, particularly the works of artists such as Giovanni Bellini and Cima da Conegliano.
One can detect quite clear parallels to the works of the Bottega dei Santacroce: the architectural structure and the clear division of the of the work into various levels can be found especially in works by Girolamo such as the “Madonna and Child Enthroned with a Holy Bishop” (oil on panel, 51.8 x 69.9 cm, Mead Art Museum, Amherst College, Amherst/MA) and the “Annunciation” (oil on panel, 55.6 x 71.1 cm). The facial type of the Madonna and the angels compare closely to those from the Adoration or the Child in the Dresden Gemäldegalerie (oil on panel, 62 x 75.5 cm). Furthermore, all of the above-mentioned panels share almost identical dimensions.
Two families of painters who both bore the name Santa Croce were active in Venice simultaneously in the time around 1500. Girolamo da Santa Croce was a disciple of Gentile Bellini, most likely together with Francesco di Simone da Santa Croce, a representative of the other painting workshop of the same name. After Gentile’s death, Girolamo remained in the workshop of his brother Giovanni. The beginning of Girolamo’s own career can likely be placed around 1510.
In a letter of to the previous owner dated 21.9.1962, the director of the Sovrintendenza alle Gallerie - Milano, Franco Russoli, attributed the painting to Girolamo da Santacroce: "as far as can be judged from the photograph he has sent, the painting belonging to you appears to be a work by Girolamo Galizzi da Santacroce, a painter from Bergamo who died in Venice in 1556".