Summary description
Oil painting on poplar panel (horizontal oval), The Miracle of the Founding of Santa Maria Maggiore with a Fall of Snow (5th August 352) (predella panel), attributed to Perugino (Citta della Pieve c.1450 – Fontignano 1523), circa 1475/1480. In the centre the Madonna appears in clouds while falling snow marks the site of the church; on the left the Pope raises his mattock, watched by the patrician John from the other side; behind each are attendant figures; in the background are Renaissance buildings. Seal on reverse. In shadow box.
Provenance
Reputedly the Capelle Pucci at Florence, whence bought by (Henry?) Tresham for Lord Cawdor; his sale, Skinner and Dyke, 6 June 1800, lot 27 (lot 26 was the 'Birth of the Baptist'); anonymous sale, Christie's (probably Colonel Matthew Smith), 12 May 1804, lot 41, probably bought in. (lot 42, listed as a companion, was the 'Birth of the Baptist'. It was bought by Roscoe and is now in the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool). The Polesden Lacey panel was put up for sale a (? )second time by Colonel Matthew Smith, Christie's, 1 May 1812, lot 52, bought in. Nothing more appears to be known about it until it was acquired at an unspecified date by Mrs Greville from Langton Douglas (1864 - 1951), through Borenius (bought as a Filippino Lippi); bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913)
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, The McEwan Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: on back of panel ( still thick, and with the four nicks where original held in place): top left, red wax seal of [presumably] Lord Cawdor [ a zig-zag between three roses, with a long-tailed beast as crest]; in old ink: Maso/& [?]/ [--------][ both words illegible]; on large paper label, in ink:The Miracle on Founding the Church of Sta Marai Magiore [on] the Equiline Hill in Rome - John, a noble Patrician in the reign of the Empr./ Contantione and in the Pontificate of St Liberius, on the birth of a son mad/ a vow in conjuntion with his consort to build a Church, and dedicate/it to the Blessed Virgin: uncrtain where to put it, the Virgin appeared to /John, in a vision, ordered him to build a Church to the Most/Holy Virgin on that spot, on whihch he should the next day observe a /Mircale. Accordingly, on going over the City, the following day: being the /5th of August 352, an heavy shower of snow fell on the Esquiline hil, and covered/ a alrge span of Ground: the Vision and Miracle were considered confirmed, / and on that spot John created his Church - Vide Wright. Vasi Jacobi/Lauri etc; and on panel in pencil: No. 5
Makers and roles
attributed to Perugino (Citta della Pieve c.1450 – Fontignano 1523), artist
previously catalogued as attributed to Filippino Lippi (Prato c.1457 – Florence 1504), artist
References
Le Pérugin Maître de Raphaël (Perugino) Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris, 12 Sept 2014 - 19 Jan 2015, pp. 67-87, 71, 72
Related items
Record Status
Enhanced