Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine - Ludovico Cardi 'Cigoli' (1559 - 1613)

Ludovico Cardi, called Cigoli
(Cigoli San Miniato 1559 - Rome 1613)
attributed to

Mystic Marriage of St. Catherine of Alexandria in the presence of San Sebastián
(by Antonio ALLEGRI, known as CORREGGIO)

early 17th century (1609-1613)
oil on canvas
 
Provenance: Private Collection

(cm) 103x97
with frame 130 x 125

The proposed painting is taken from the homonymous work of Antonio Allegri (Correggio 1489 circa - 1534), conserved in the Louvre Museum in Paris. Painted in 1527 for the physician Francesco Grillenzoni of Modena, the canvas achieved exceptional success and fame, since the sixteenth century.

For this reason, the work fascinated many artists, who wanted to pay tribute, often to satisfy the demands of the most famous art collectors of the time, who wanted to own their own copy.

Among the most famous names: Giulio Cesare Procaccini, Annibale Carracci, and Ludovico Cardi, called 'Cigoli', who replied in several versions, the most famous is now preserved in the Civic Museum of Pistoia (see photo in detail).

A scrupulous stylistic and comparative analysis of our canvas, (datable in the early seventeenth century), has confirmed the attribution to Ludovico Cigoli. This attribution can be confirmed by the remarkable findings with the last phase of his pictorial careers, coinciding with his transfer to Rome, where he remained until his death.

Composition: The focus of the painting is represented by the three hands of the Virgin, the child and the young St Catherine of Alexandria. The scene represents the moment when the child of Christ St. Catherine giving him a wedding ring, a symbol of faith. All eyes of the characters converge on this narrative and emotional core, including that of San Sebastian, an unusual guest of this mystical union. On the bottom right, you can see the scene of the saint's martyrdom.

The canvas, in excellent condition, is accompanied by an original frame, lacquered black with golden racemes.