THE BLUE MADONNA Oil on canvas CARLO DOLCI ITALIAN 1616 - 1687 By Ronnie Koenig DOLCI WAS THE MAJOR FLORENTINE PAINTER OF THE 17TH CENTURY. HE ENJOYED AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION IN HIS OWN LIFETIME. CARLO DOLCl WAS A DEVAUT CATHOLIC AND CONSIDERED HIS PAINTINGS OFFERINGS TO GOD. HE EVEN WROTE PRAYERS ON THE BACK OF SOME OF HIS WORKS. HE STUDIED JACOBO VIGNALI. HE ENTERED VIGNALIS STUDIO IN 1625. DOLCI WAS A GIFTED PORTRAIT PAINTER AND PAINTED A NUMBER OF LARGE ALTARPIECES, BUT HIS REPUTATION IS MOSTLY BASED ON HIS HALF LENGTH SINGLE FIGURE PAINTINGS , CHARACTERIZED BY THEIR INTENSE RILIGIOSITY AND METICULOUS TECHNIQUE. HE LOVED BRILLIANT COLORS. IN SOME OF HIS WORKS (GUARDIAN ANGEL) DOLCI COMBINES A PERFECTION OF SURFACE FINISH, PROBABLY INFLUENCED BY BRONZINO.

HE SPENT ALMOST HIS ENTIRE CAREER IN HIS NATIVE FLORENCE. HIS WORKS WERE HIGHLY PRIZED BY ENGLISH ARISTOCRACY AS EARLY AS THE 17TH CENTURY. SIR JOHN FINSH CREATED THE FIRST IMPORTANTT COLLECTION OF HIS WORKS IN BRITAIN. DOLCI ALSO HAD STUDIED FLEMISH ART, AS MUCH FOR STYLE AS TECHNIGUE. IT REVEALS HIS TALENT AND GENIUS FOR PORTRAITURE,WHEN HE PAINTED AINOLFO DEBARDI C1634

A CHILD PRODIGI DOLCI PAINTED THIS PORTRAIT AT THE AGE OF SIXTEEN. IT IS MATURE NOT ONLY IN TECHNIQUE BUT IN ITS PSYCHOLOGICAL PENETRATION. FLORENTINE ARTIST OF THIS PERIOD , UNLIKE THE BOLOGNESE SCHOOL, RETAINED A SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN ELEGANCE AND LOCAL DETAILS , APPARENTLY IN THE RICH DRESS AND POSE. THIS AND OTHER WORKS CAN BE ENJOYED IN PALAZZO PITTI , FLORENCE.

THE BLUE MADONNA 1S A PAINTING OF THE HIGH BAROQUE TIME (1600 - 1700). THE PAINTING WAS ACQUIRED BY J RINGLING IN 1927. THE BEAUTY OF THIS PAINTING IS THE SIMPLICITY. IT ATTRACTS AND MOVES YOU. SOME LIGHT FROM ABOVE 1S FALLING ON HER BEAUTIFUL FACE. SHE HAS AN INNOCENT EXPRESSION, WHICH ACCENTUATES HER PEACEFUL FACE. WITH DOWNCAST EYES SHE LOOKS MELANCHOLY AND SHOWS THE INNER PEACE OF HER SOUL. A VEIL IN ROYAL BLUE FRAMES HER HEAD AND IS SOFTLY DRAPED OVER HER SHOULDERS. A BLACK BACKGROUND GIVES IT A QUIET FINISH. A SHIMMER OF LIGHT JUST ABOVE HER HEAD ALSO GIVES YOU THE ELUSION OF AN HALO.

THIS PAINTING COULD BE HUNG IN A CHURCH AS WELL AS IN A HOME. IT HAS A PRETTY ANTIQUE GOLD FRAME. A SIMILAR PIECE MADONNA AND CHILD HANGS IN THE CHAPEL IN THE ROYAL APPARTMENT PALAZZO PITTY. THIS ONE HAS A REMARKABLE FRAME OF GILDED BRONZE INLAID WITH SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES, RED JASPER FROM CYPRESS AND THE FLOWER AND FRUIT DESIGN OBTAINED WITH AGATES CHALCEDONY.

ANOTHER OF DOLCIS PAINTINGS "SAIT JOHN WRITING THE BOOK OF REVELATION" SEATED IN PATMOS, HIS EYES RAISED TO HEAVEN FOR INSPIRATION, THE EAGLE BEHIND HIS LEFT ARM (OIL ON COPPER) IS ALSO IN THE JOHN AND MABLE RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART.