Artist Federico Barocci | ||
 | ||
Similar Federico Barocci artwork, Other artwork | ||
The painting titled Madonna of the Cat or Madonna del gatto was painted in 1575 by Federico Barocci. It is presently in the National Gallery of London.
History and Description
The painting was made for Count Antonio Brancaleoni of Perugia. Engravings of the painting appeared by 1577.
The Holy Family, consisting of Joseph, Mary, a young John the Baptist, and a lactating infant Jesus, are portrayed in a domestic moment. John appears to be teasing the cat with a captured goldfinch, an allegoric symbol of Christ's Passion. John's reed rests against a wall in the background. The main characters form a proto-Baroque-style diagonal to the right. In the style of Barocci, the cheeks are rosy.
References
Madonna of the Cat (Federico Barocci) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA