Luca Giordano, gen. Fa Presto
The salvific destiny of the Virgin
Description
A ray of light falls from God the Father and the dove of the Holy Spirit in the upper left onto Virgin sitting on St Anne's lap on the right. St Joachim on the steps below. Adoring angels on the left. According to Prof. Dr Erich Herzog, the composition is a preliminary study for the altarpiece in Santa Virgin in Campitelli in Rome from 1685. Another study, which shows three kneeling saints instead of Virgin's father, was auctioned on 6 December 1973 at Parke-Bernet in New York (lot 79). With a photographic expertise by Prof. Dr Erich Herzog, Kassel, dated 1 February 1974 (in the original).