16th Century Adoration of the Shepherds Painting Oil on Copper by Carnevale

Oil on copper, 42 x 28 cm

Frame 54 x 36 cm

Expert opinion of Prof. Emilio Negro

The painting represents the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Child in the center, next to the Madonna kneeling in prayer and an angel behind her; towards him in the foreground a woman with a child in her arms, a shepherd with a sheep on the right, a bagpiper on the left and various other male and female characters turn to him. The architectures of the background, between which a glimpse of the landscape can be glimpsed, are hidden in the upper part by the clouds, where a “celestial glory” encamps with three flying angels.

The painting shows mannerist characters that can be traced back to the second half of the sixteenth century, and can be traced back to an author from the Modena area, with stylistic references to the Bolognese Samacchini (1532 – 1577) and Passerotti (1529 – 1592). More precisely, it can be attributed to Domenico Carnevale (1524-1579), one of the most important masters of the sixteenth century active in the local area. The Carnival was formed in Emilia, his homeland, where he worked for many years. However, his works also show a clear Roman influence, dictated by a long experience in the city, during which he also dedicated himself to the restoration of the Sistine Chapel. Trained in the late-mannerist environment of Modena, he is also linked to the Parmesan Corrorese and Ferrarese Dossesque tradition; Carnival also always maintains a slight archaic sentiment in his work,

The main stylistic reference must be identified in a work similar in subject and iconographic setting, coming from the church of the Pio Istituto Orfanelle di San Geminiano di Modena, currently part of the Art Collection of the Province, attributed to the same influence as the Carnival. Another interesting comparison should be identified with A Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, at the Galleria Estense in Modena.