Scarsellino
Virgin and Child with Saints Mary Magdalene, Peter, Clare, Francis, and an Abbess

Public Domain

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Artist Scarsellino (Italian (Ferrarese), c. 1550–1620)Italian (Ferrarese), c. 1550–1620

CultureItalian

Titles

Virgin and Child with Saints Mary Magdalene, Peter, Clare, Francis, and an Abbess

Datec. 1600

PlaceItaly

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions110 7/8 × 63 5/8 inches (281.6 × 161.6 cm)

Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by the Agnes Cullen Arnold Endowment

Object number97.118

Not on view

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Department

Arts of Europe and the Mediterranean

Object Type

PAINTING

ProvenancePainted for the high altar of the Church of the Convent of Santa Maria Maddalena dell Convertite, Ferrara [1]; Marchese Giovanni Battista Costabili Containi (1756-1841), Palazzo Costabili, via Voltapaletto 11, Ferrara; Inherited with the rest of his collection by his grandnephew Giovanni Costabili (1815-1881); Private collection, Italy; [Christie's, London, December 10, 1996, lot 114]; purchased by MFAH, 1997.

[1] Demolished, probably in the first quarter of the nineteenth century.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

'O TVCHE MIRI E REGGI
QUESTI CH'VNIVVADE E INSIEME A VOI DIMOSTRA
NON HEBBE A VN TEMPO LA TERRENA CHIOSTRA
MA CHI PON FRENO E LEGGI
AL DEVOTO PENSIERO
CHE VIDE IN CIEL, MA SENZA VELO, IL VERO
ET ALL HONOR SANTO E PIV CH'EGLI E PIV VAGO
DVNQVE DEL PARADISO E QVESTA IMAGO'

Oh you who see and worship these saints here united in a single picture, whose earthly lives were led at different times, pause and read these sacred words and see the truth as if in heaven , face to face, for holier and more lovely than paradise is this image.

Verso: canvas frame, Christie's label with barcode: "4-2-97/ The Packing Shop / x Christies K.S. / REF 8122 / Client Code TBAO1. / Unit L, London Stone Business Estate / Broughton Street, London SW8 3QRQ71 498 3255."

Verso: Part of a torn old label left top center (not enough to read), stamped in black ink: "PY 434." In white chalk: "LOT 114 13 DEC 96."

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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