Virgin and Child Blessing a Kneeling Donor, with Four Saints
Cardinal Rezzonico, Venice; Antonio Canova; Bishop Canova (brother to the artist); James Alexander, count Pourtalès-Gorgier, Paris; Salamanca collection, Spain; Seilliere collection, Paris; sale Galerie Georges Petit, 5 May 1890; Marquis de la Ganay, Paris; Charles Fairfax Murray[?]; Charles Davis, London; Thomas Agnew & Sons, London; from whom purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1910.
Attributed to Marco Bello, a member of Giovanni Bellini's prolific Venetian workshop, this painting is based on different models developed by the master. That Bello is responsible is confirmed by a closely related painting in Stuttgart that is signed by Marco Bello, pupil of Giovanni Bellini. The saints depicted in this devotional scene include, from left to right, Paul, George, an unidentified female saint, and a martyr, possibly Saint Cecilia, holding a wreath and a palm frond. The painting was privately commissioned by the unidentified donor, who kneels at center, receiving the virgin's touch as he adores her and the Christ child.