0102

Denys or Dionys Calvaert came from Antwerp but began his training in Italy very early in the workshops of Lorenzo Sabatini (1530 – 1576) and Prospero Fontana (1512 – 1597). Thanks to his intensive study of the works of Correggio and Parmigianino, he soon became a sought-after landscape and figure painter. The Flemish founded a respected workshop in Bologna, where he trained students such as Guido Reni (1575-1642) and Domenichino (1581 – 1641).
Characteristics of Calvaert's style are the finely formulated facial features of the figures and the bright colour shades of the robes, although here the colouring was chosen to be more subtle and seems to adapt to the tonal background. The protagonists interacting with each other, mostly shown in profile or three-quarter profile, already show the typical pointed fingers, which Guido Reni later adapted for his paintings.
The composition of the main group of figures in the middle ground is particularly close to a pen drawing of the "Adoration of the Shepherds" (Kupferstichkabinett Berlin, Staatliche Museen, Inv. No. 18602) by Polidoro da Caravaggio (1499-1543). The figures were arranged in a similar way on a rock plateau bordering on a temple complex. There are relations in posture, orientation and pointing gestures of the Holy Family, admirers and approaching shepherds. It is possible that the Berlin figure study provided the inspiration for Calvaert's present work.
“In addition to the Holy Family sitting on a raised rock, the scene in the upper part of the painting with a band of clouds illuminated by the sun, on which winged angels performing music in colourful robes are hovering down, is particularly striking. This radiant brightness, which allows the viewer to clearly see the details of the foreground and middle ground, is characteristic of the period of Caracci painting in Bologna at the beginning of the 17th century. There in Bologna Calvaert 'leaves' Flemish landscape painting completely and turns entirely to depicting religious figures” (cf. certificate Dr. Ertz).