Madison Museum of Fine Art, Inc. |
| Home |
| About the Museum |
| Visit Us |
| Exhibitions |
| Rental Facilities |
| Education |
| Sculpture Garden |
| Give |
| Calendar of Events |
| Join |
| From the Director |
| In The News |
| Picture Gallery |
| Collection |
| Links |
| Site Admin |
| Image Details
Battistello  "Charity," circa 1610 Oil on Canvas,attributed to Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, called “Battistello” Italian, (1570-1637) Once a student of Fabrizio Santefede, Batistello abandoned the Neapolitan Mannerist tradition to become an ardent disciple of Roman master Michel-Angelo Caravaggio. Circa 1600, the young artist founded the “modern” Neapolitan School based on Caravaggio’s style. To enhance the drama of his subjects, Battistello stiffened the more flexible style of Caravaggio as in his Liberation of St. Peter and Baptism of Christ. And he later returned to a more academic style under the influence of Carraci as seen in Christ’s Farewell to His Mother dated 1620. In this lyrical allegorical painting, Battistello depicts a young woman breast feeding three infants. In allegorical paintings, artists employ motifs and visual images to communicate an abstract concept. Here, the artist interprets charity as a generous, nurturing, broadly shared gift. Works held in the Naples Museum and numerous Naples churches including St. Martino, St. Maria della Solitaria, St. Nicolo, St. Anna de Lombardi, and St. Angello. 2004 Gift to the Museum from Mr. Julius Szakaly Previous • Back to List • Next |