Bernardino Licinio

Mrs. C.E. Danforth;
By whom bequeathed to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (Res. 19.43);
Sale, Paris, Millon et Associés, 9 December 2005, lot 80, for €30,000;
With Giovanni Sarti, Paris, from whom acquired by the present owner. 

W.G. Constable, Summary Catalogue of European Paintings, Boston 1955;
L. Vertova, "Bernardino Licinio", in I pittori bergamaschi dal XIII al XIX secolo. Vol. I: Il Cinquecento, Bergamo 1980, p. 445, reproduced fig. 2;
A.R. Murphy, European painting in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. An Illustrated Summary catalogue, Boston 1985, reproduced p. 168;
G. Briganti, La pittura in Italia, Il Cinquecento, Milan 1992, vol. II, p. 748;
P. Joannides, Titian to 1518, New Haven and London 2001, pp. 96 and 263, reproduced p. 96, fig. 84.

The panel support has been cradled. The paintgin has recently been cleaned and restored and is in moderate overall condition. There are two old horizontal splits running from the right hand edge across the body and arm of the Christ Child and a little beyond, and another larger split running across the width of the panel at the level of the nose of Saint Joseph and the Madonna's forehead. A small additional crack is in evidence between the arms of Saint John and the Christ Child. All of these splits and the surrounding areas have been restored, and there is in addition a larger area of loss between the heads of Joseph and the Madonna. There have been numerous retouchings to the body of the infant Christ. The paint surface has suffered from abrasion in the past with subsequent loss of glazes and some areas, notably the sky and some draperies, have been much restored to disguise this. The varnish remains clear and shiny. Offered with a modern pierced and gilt wood framein 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."

With differences to the clothing, the pose of the Madonna and Child repeats that of Titian's painting in the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo.¹ Licinio has here added the figures of Saints Joseph and John the Baptist. He used the same model for the Virgin for the Madonna with Saint Catherine of Alexandria formerly in the Ziethen collection, Munich.²


1. See F. Rossi, Accademia Carrara, Catalogo dei Dipinti sec. XV-XVI, Bergamo 1988, vol. I, p. 300, reproduced fig. 644.
2. L. Vertova, under literature, p. 451, reproduced fig. 5.