Madonna with St. Peter & St. Sebastian ~ Bellini Antique Print

Beautiful folio size antique photogravure print from the picture by Giovanni Bellini (click thumbnails above for larger size image).

Printed on heavyweight cream stock. Plate mark present. Reverse side is blank.

It's hard to appreciate the stunning detail and clarity of this print until you see it in person.

Behind a balustrade, the very top of which is the base of the picture, stands Mary, turned in three- u quarters view to the left, supporting the baby Jesus who stands upright on the top of the railing. He is a fat, rather tightly modeled little figure, with eyes far apart, gazing out with a babyish, wondering look, while with his right hand he makes the sign of the blessing. Mary is drawn with a dignity but coldness of line that gives her a sort of impersonality, as if she were an uninterested spectator. Her heavy eyebrows, drooping lids, pronounced nose and small mouth, make her face very unlike the Umbrian, Florentine or Siennese type of Madonna. Behind the mother and child, at the left, is Sebastian, his hands joined, his eyes wistful. At the right is St. Peter, his rugged, bushy-bearded face in strong contrast to the soft, full, smooth countenance of St. Sebastian. Above this group are three cherubs, two in extremely fore-shortened positions.

Title: The Virgin between Saint Peter and Saint Sebastian

Publication: Great Masters in the Louvre Gallery

Publication Year: 1899-1900

Publisher: D. Appleton & Goupil & Co. (New York & Paris)

Approximate Page Size (in inches): 12½ x 16¾

Approximate Image Size (in inches): 10 x 14¼

Condition: EX. Very clean.