The Virgin and child seated near a tree

Francesco Brizio was a leading painter and engraver of the Bolognese school. He studied under Agostino and Ludovico Caracci, two members of this hugely important family of artists, who succeeded in purging the affectations of late Mannerism, and brought in a more classicised, readable style, often regarded as part of the early Baroque. Later Brizio went on to engrave many of Agostino's paintings and drawings.

The attribution to Brizio of this tender and idyllic engraving pf an archetypal Christian theme is generally agreed. It is after a damaged drawing by Agostino Carracci in the British Museum.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Brizio

Dr Mark Stocker   Curator, Historical International Art