Art Institute Acquires Early 17th Century Painting
CHICAGO (STMW) -- The Art Institute of Chicago has made "a major acquisition" of an early 17th century painting by Ludovico Carracci, one of three artists in the family who transformed Italian painting at the turn of the century.
"The Vision of Saint Francis" (c. 1602) is the first painting by Ludovico Carracci to enter the collection, a release from the museum said. While the Art Institute hs several works on paper by Ludovico and his cousins Annibale and Agostino, generally recognized as the artists who transformed Italian painting\, according to the release, "The Vision of Saint Francis" is the first to become part of the Art Institute's permanent collection.
The oil on copper painting, depicting a tender vision of Saint Francis, is now on view in Gallery 212A.
"We are thrilled to add this singular example of 17th-century Bolognese painting to our permanent collection," Douglas Druick, chair of the Department of Medieval through Modern European Painting and Sculpture, said in the release.
"Already at the Art Institute we are fortunate to possess many important works of Carracci's contemporaries -- from Guido Reni's 'Salome with the Head of Saint John the Baptist' to Guercino's 'Entombment' to Albani's 'Virgin and Child Adored by Saint Francis.' This stunning copper reveals the naturalistic underpinnings of 17th-century Bolognese painting, thereby complementing and greatly enhancing our collection of early modern Italian art."
Ludovico Carracci was born in Bologna in 1555. At the age of 22, he was admitted as a master painter and traveled extensively throughout Italy to study the art produced in other cities. Upon his return, he and his cousins founded an academy of drawing, where the family executed drawings from live models.
The Carracci family was largely responsible for transforming Bolognese painting from the staid and restricted Mannerist style into the compelling blend of classicism inflected with naturalistic elements that would dominate 17th century Italian painting, the release said.
"The Vision of Saint Francis" is one of 16 known paintings on copper by Ludovico Carracci, many of which are in private collections.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
