MAGATTI, Pietro Antonio
(b. 1691, Varese, d. 1767, Varese)

Holy Family

c. 1725
Oil on canvas, 66 x 87 cm
Private collection

Magatti adopts a joyful mode in his depiction of the Holy Family: Joseph is a true and playful participant as he dangles two bright red cherries near the Christ Child's hand, a welcome colour notation in a composition dominated by greens that modulate from almond to bottle-green tonalities.