The Holy Family

FRA BONAVENTURA BISI
(also known as “il Padre pitturino”)
Bologna 1612 – 1659 Bologna

The Holy Family, 1634

Etching after Parmigianino (Parma 1503 – 1540 Casal Maggiore)
30.5 x 23 cm.; 12 x 9 inches

Reference:
Nagler Monogrammisten II, 1956
De Vesme 1 III

Notes:

1. A strong and harmonious impression of this extremely rare work. The elegance and fluidity of the drawing technique, so evident in this work, as well the assured handling of  this classical subject are excellent representations of the spirit and very soul of the Italian Renaissance.  Nagler states that this work has been inspired by a work by Parmagianino. De Vesme, on the other hand, is not sure that the creator of this work was Bisi and also thought that the artist’s inspiration came rather from a work by Giorgio Vasari. Our description agrees with Nagler  who assigns this work to Bisi after Parmigianino.
2.  It is to be noted that Bisi was a Franciscan monk who was a student of Lucio Massari and, above all, was a miniaturist. He also was a “renaissance man” whose erudition won him the task of putting together the art collection of Duke Alfons IV of Modena.