Joseph Von Fuhrich (1800 - 1876), Attributed, Virgin with Baby Jesus and Saint John, Joseph Von Fuhrich (1800 - 1876), Attributed, Virgin with Baby Jesus and Saint John

101 x 71 cm

This painting is a clear reference to the more famous "Madonna of the Belvedere" by Raphael Sanzio (now preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna). Immersed in a vast lake landscape with a particularly high horizon, we find a seated Madonna holding the Baby Jesus, who seems to be taking the first uncertain steps towards little John, who is kneeling on the left offering a processional cross, his typical attribute. In the gesture of Jesus, who takes hold of the cross, there is a reminder of the fate of his martyrdom.
The loose and pyramidal composition, with the protagonists linked by a chain of glances and gestures, is clearly based on Leonardo's models, such as the Holy Family with Saint Anne. The author focused on portraying affection, a sense of calm and spontaneous familiarity, without the traditional melancholy of the Virgin Mary, which foreshadows the tragic fate of her son.
The typical red color of Mary's dress represented Christ's Passion, and the blue represented the Church. There is a distinct contour line between the figures and the landscape, which, unlike Leonardo's painting, is placed in the background. Among the various carefully depicted botanical species, another stylistic motif derived from Leonardo stands out, the red poppy. The color is also a reference to Christ's passion, death and resurrection.
101 x 71 cm
Oil on canvas