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Overview
This engraving depicts a sculpture of the standing figure of the Madonna holding the Christ Child who plays with a bird, probably a goldfinch. The figures are located within a classical niche, protected by a shell canopy. The original sculpture that this print very likely illustrates was unknown to the print expert Adam Bartsch who catalogued it in 1841, and this remains the case. The authorship of the engraving can, however, be confidently attributed to the Rome-based printmaker Cherubino Alberti (1552-1615), a point confirmed by the Alberti specialist Roberto Manescalchi, who regards him as being comparable in importance and quality to his better known contemporary Agostino Carraci. It is one of at least 14 engravings of the Madonna by Alberti. No artist's mark was on the original print, but one of its past owners artfully inserted the initials 'CA' at bottom left. These are immediately recognisable as being in pencil.
The engraving is in the so-called King George IV album of Old Master prints, acquired by the Dominion Museum in 1910.
Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art April 2017