The madonna with child hovering over "Casa Santa di Loreto"
Artist/Maker
Material / Technique
Dimensionsh x w: Mått 22,9 x 17,7 cm
Inventory numberNMH 466/1863
AcqusitionTransferred 1866 from Kongl. Museum (Carl Gustaf Tessin)
Other titlesTitle (sv): Madonnan med barnet svävar över "Casa Santa di Loreto" Title (en): The madonna with child hovering over "Casa Santa di Loreto" Inventory title (sv): Madonnan med barnet på La Santa Casa i Loretto
DescriptionDescription: The madonna with child hovering over "Casa Santa di Loreto". Laid down. Inscribed in pen and brown ink at lower left: Antonio Viviani (17th c. hand) and at lower right right: Cabinet de Crozat (Tessin). Numbered at lower right in pen and brown ink: 17 (cancelled) and 393. (Sparre). Casa Santa is the legendary brick building, measureing 9 x 4 metres, in which the Virgin Mary is said to have been born and lived her whole life in Nazareth; when the Turks threatened the kingdom of Jerusalem in 1291, angels transported the building to Italy, where it was placed in Loreto in 1295. A cathedral was erected over the building, in the simple interior of which there is a black cederwood sculpture of the Virgin and child, said to have been carved by St. Luke but stylistically a work from the second half of the 15th century. Our artist's subject is not that picture but rather a representation of the Virgin accompanying her home from Nasareth. Although the attribution is from the 175h century, there may be some room for doubt. Another version of the subject - with the angels carrying the Casa Santa with the Madonna sitting on its roof - by an unidentified master in the surrounding of Barocci, also in Nationalmuseum. See no. 431. [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 572]
Collection
Geographical origin
TechniqueDrawing, Wash drawing