Year 1518 Artist Pontormo Created 1516 Genre Christian art | Type Oil on paper Location San Michele Visdomini Period Mannerism | |
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Dimensions 214 cm × 195 cm (84 in × 77 in) Christian art Visitation, The Deposition from the, Annunciation, Santa Lucia de' Magnoli, Deposition of Christ | ||
The Madonna with Child and Saints, also known as Pala Pucci, is a painting by the Italian late Renaissance painter Jacopo Pontormo, executed in 1516. It is housed in the church of San Michele Visdomini in Florence.
It portrays numerous figures. St. Joseph, on the left, is holding Jesus (a role usually fulfilled by the Madonna). The presence of St. Joseph is explained by the fact that his gospel, the Gospel of James, deals with Christ's childhood and praises Joseph's paternal cares. St. Francis is connected to name of the committant and the devotion of his order towards Jesus.
History
The work was commissioned by Francesco Pucci, a collaborator of the House of Medici and a justice gonfaloniere. The date can be seen in the painting on the book held by St. John the Baptist, on the left. The largest oil on canvas by Pontormo, it is also one of the few works by him which is still in its original location.
The panel was praised by Giorgio Vasari, who called it "the most notable panel ever made by this very rare painter".