Among Leonardo’s Milanese disciples was Gian Pietro Rizzi, commonly known
as Giampietrino, a definite artistic personality, but historically hardly
more than a name. Although he was probably not a direct pupil of
Leonardo, there is ample evidence in his work that he came under the
influence of this great master, whose exquisitely perfect art had
captivated all of Lombardy. Whatever the subject of his paintings,
Giampietro’s real theme is always the beauty of woman. Affection, but
never any great emotional feeling, is expressed in his numerous paintings
of the Madonna, since passion would distort the delicate, aristocratic
beauty of the forms he modeled with such loving skill. Our painting is
exhibited as and indefinite loan from Mr. E. J. Carpenter.
[Madonna and Saints. Palma il Vecchio, about 1480-1528]