Nicholas Lochoff (d.1948) after

Domenico del Ghirlandaio (Florentine, 1449-94)
THE BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN

Original (1485-90) in the choir of Santa Maria Novella, Florence (Fresco)

This painting, one of a series relating to the life of the Virgin, was commissioned by Giovanni Tornabuoni, a relation of the Medici, for a chapel he had bought at Santa Maria Novella. The patron's daughter, Ludovica, stands in profile at the center of the scene. The Interior is reminiscent of those by the contemporary architect Giuliano da Sangallo, with decoration inspired by ancient sarcophagi. Ghirlandaio needed his entire workshop to complete the series expediently, perhaps including the youthful Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of his apprentices during this period.

Text by Robert Gerwing.
Copyright 2004.