La Madonna del Gatto: a longer look

Very good morning workshop at the National Gallery looking in detail at “The Madonna del Gatto” in the current Barocci exhibition.

The first section looked at the painting in detail, examining who it was painted for but also looking at the details in it. I hadn’t spotted the lovely prayer book in the basket at the front.

We then looked at the art historic context placing it within Barocci’s career and looking at his technique. We also discussed whether he could be described as a Mannerist artist or is he more Baroque.

He last session was in the main galleries looking at works which related to the painting. We looked at a lovely Correggio of the virgin fitting a jacket she’s made on the Christ child. I’d walked past this picture so often but never stopped and looked at it properly. We also looked at Parmigianino's "Madonna and Child with Saints" which keeps coming up in lectures!

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