John the Evangelist

An adolescent boy is depicted with a halo. No other attribute identifies this saint dressed in a simple garment and cloak, who is the only motif of this painting. He is depicted with arms crossed on his chest. Although his gaze is directed towards the viewer, it has no communicative purpose. This small religious painting was probably created for private worship.

The theme is depicted in a precise naturalist style and concentrates on the essential motif of the melancholy face. The portrait is very attractive, the gestures and posture elegant, set against an non-descript background.

The mirror image of the same face is depicted in the painting with the theme of Saint John the Baptist in a private collection and which is currently attributed to Simone Cantarini. Earlier it was attributed to Flaminio Torre (1621–1661). The motif of the Bratislava painting is based on the template of Saint John the Baptist despite the missing attributes and traditional designation of young Jesus. Although many individual elements point to the work of Cantarini, the painting with the half figure of Saint John the Baptist is based on general depictions of the saint with a scroll and eagle and therefore doubts about its artist remain.

Zuzana Ludiková ● LUDIKOVÁ, Zuzana - BURAN, Dušan. Talianska maľba = Italian Painting. Bratislava : Slovenská národná galéria, 2013. 242 strán. ISBN 9788080591748.