The Madonna adoring the Sleeping Christ Child
Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (Conegliano c.1459 - Venice 1517)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1480 - circa 1490
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
400 x 311 mm (15 3/4 x 12 1/4in)
Place of origin
Venice
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597918
Caption
Although this serene painting has been damaged in time and overpainted it is believed to be an early work by Cima and that the inscription on the cartellino: joanes baptista choneglianensis f could be a genuine signature. A favourite motif of the parapet, or stone ledge and style of the Virgin’s clothing, shows the influence of the celebrated early Renaissance Venetian artist, Giovanni Bellini and Antonello da Messina who was in Venice in 1475. This is one of the first and earliest paintings to arrive at Montacute in 1948/9, having been presented by Alexander Campbell Blair (d. 1935) of Aberconwy House, Conwy.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, The Madonna adoring the Sleeping Christ Child by Giovanni Battista Cima da Congeliano (Conegliano c.1459 - Venice 1517), circa 1480-90. Inscribed on cartellino: joanes baptista choneglianensis f - but repainted. The Madonna is shown centre, half-length behind a stone ledge, on which lies the Child, with head propped up on a pillow; distant landscape with hills in background.
Provenance
Left to the National Trust with the contents of Aberconwy House, Conwy, by Alexander Campbell Blair (1862 – 1936) in 1934/35; on loan to the National Museum of Wales from 1937 until 1948/9 when transferred to Montacute
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Inscribed on cartellino bottom right: joanes baptista choneglianensis
Makers and roles
Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano (Conegliano c.1459 - Venice 1517), artist Italian (Venetian) School , artist previously catalogued as attributed to Giovanni Bellini (Venice 1431/36 – Venice 1516), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Bartolomeo Montagna (Orzinuovi c.1450 – Venice 1523), artist
References
Montacute House, Somerset, 1976 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1976, "THE CRIMSON DRESSING ROOM Paintings The Madonna and Child, manner of Cima (1459/60-1517/18). Given by Mr A. Campbell-Blair." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.67. "THE CRIMSON DRESSING ROOM PAINTINGS The Madonna and Child With a later (now indistinct) inscription on the cartellino: Joanes Baptista Choneglianensis (i.e. the early sixteenth-century Venetian artist Cima di Conegliano). The painting's poor condition makes an attribution impossible. Italian School, c.1500." Montacute House, Somerset, 1997 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, revised 1997 , p.67. "THE CRIMSON DRESSING ROOM PAINTINGS The Madonna and Child With a later (now indistinct) inscription on the cartellino: Joanes Baptista Choneglianensis (i.e. the early sixteenth-century Venetian artist Cima di Conegliano). The painting's poor condition makes an attribution impossible. Italian School, c.1500." Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.55. "THE CRIMSON DRESSING ROOM PAINTINGS The Madonna and Child With a later (now indistinct) inscription on the cartellino: Joanes Baptista Choneglianensis (i.e. the early sixteenth-century Venetian artist Cima di Conegliano). The painting's poor condition makes an attribution impossible. Italian School, c.1500."