Barbara Longhi was born to a family of artists in Ravenna. Her father, Luca, was a skilled portraitist. He trained his son, Francesco, and his daughter. Together the family collaborated on large altarpieces for local churches. Barbara's work often resembles that of her father but on a smaller scale. She favored the subject of the Virgin and Child, returning to the theme over and over again. By 1600, when the present work was completed, she abandoned full-figured representations and paired down the landscape backgrounds to create simple, pious images.

The present painting will be included in Liana De Girolami Cheney's forthcoming book Barbara Longhi of Ravenna: 1552-1638. We are grateful for her assistance in cataloguing this lot.