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

Public Domain

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Artist ScarsellinoItalian (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 Fund

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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