Luca Longhi

Arthur Frankel;
By whom sold, New York, Sotheby's, 16 June 1976, lot 128 for $5,000, where acquired by Dr. W Sherman;
Private collection, Lake Arrowhead, California.

Madrid, Galería Caylus, Pintura Gótica y del Renacimiento, 17 February - 31 March 2006, cat. no. 6.

Count A. Cappi, Luca Longhi illustrato, Ravenna 1853, pp 129-130, reproduced fig. 165.

The catalogue illustration is a little too saturated and the colours are not quite as bright as suggested. The canvas has been recently relined and the surface recently cleaned, restored and revarnished. The paint surface in general is in relatively good condition. There are several localised areas of spot retouchings some of them heavy, notably those on the lower half of the virgin’s dress and her outstretched right arm, to the sky in the upper right corner and to the body of the leftmost angel and the face of the rightmost angel. There are further small areas of retouchings to the rearmost shepherd’s face and to that of St Joseph. The painting however requires no further attention and is ready to hang, and the restoration has been carried out to a high standard. Sold with a gilt cassetta frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Longhi spent most of his career in his native city of Ravenna and it is in that city's churches that many of his works can still be found. He drew inspiration from various sources including Francesco Francia, Giovanni Bellini and even Raphael, whose designs he would have known through engravings.

A version of this composition in fresco is in the Accademia di Belle Arti in Ravenna. Venturi lists another version in the Corrado Ricci collection in Rome, though this appears to be inferior in quality and may be a copy after the fresco (see A. Venturi, Storia dell'arte italiana, Milan 1932, IX, vol. V, p. 705, reproduced p. 696).