Lot 561: BRANDL Petr (1668 - 24. 9. 1735 Kutna Hora) The

BRANDL Petr (1668 - 24. 9. 1735 Kutna Hora) The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist Oil on canvas, 107 x 84 cm, undated [circa 1730], unsigned, relined at the end of the 19th century. The painting depicts the Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist. In the centre of the composition is the three-quarter length seated figure of the Virgin wearing a red dress and blue cloak. She is holding the naked Infant Jesus with her right hand on her lap; he is sitting on white drapery. The Infant is leaning towards Saint John the Baptist who is kissing his left foot. Saint John the Baptist is wearing brown drapery around his shoulders and is holding a cross with the inscription ""ECCE AGNUS DEI"" in his left hand Saint Joseph is depicted as a middle-aged man in brown clothes on the left and leaning towards the group in the centre, he is holding a lily in his right hand and his left hand is raised in an expressive gesture. There is a large decorative vase on the right, in the background there is a landscape with a dark cloudy sky. This work is rightly attributed to Petr Brandl - one of the greatest masters of Czech Baroque painting. The painting was exhibited at the exhibition of Prague Baroque in 1938. The composition and rendition of the Madonna is similar to the altar painting depicting the Adoration of the Magi in the church Zjeveni Pane in Smirice which was painted by Brandl in 1727. Provided with a laboratory report by D. Pechova. Ex collection Miroslav Trlica. Petr Brandl is one of the leading Czech Baroque painters, he is known for his paintings with strong light contrasts and his characteristic brushwork emphasizing the dramatical character of his paintings. See T 1/88, TB 4/528, B 2/273, NECVU 1/85.