George's Family Portrait

This is a portrait of a family painted at the Cincinnati Art Museum using Antonio Ceraiolo's Madonna & Child with John the Baptist. Tom painted a copy of it but placed the faces of the family in place of the faces in the painting. The painting chosen is an Italianate portrait painted during the time of Da Vinci. Antonio del Ceraiolo (also known as Antonio di Arcangelo) was an Italian painter, active in Florence in a Renaissance style, between 1520 and 1538. He was a pupil of Ridolfo Ghirlandaio, and then Lorenzo di Credi. Tom painted the copy in May of 2008. The painting was presented to the family in September of 2008 and reference photos were taken. During the paintings travel to East Hampton the painting was damaged. Tom placed Sarran wrap over the top of the painting and when he removed it about 10% of the paint came off. The result was not unlike an ancient painting where some of the painting flaked off. The work was started up anew in January of 2009. After three weeks work the oil was just beginning to set up. Tom will be going back to the museum to finish the work.

Antonio del Ceraiolo, Italy, 1520, CAM 1854.138, 30" x 40", Madonna & Child with St. John the Baptist

The painting was later displayed at an art show and Tom used a ready made frame but had to add 4 inches to the bottom of the painting bringing it to the original size of the work in the museum. Not being allowed to copy a work with the same size canvas, Tom made the copy size 30" x 36". A 4" x 30" inch canvas strecher was made and bolted to the bottom of the copy. Gesso was laid in the crack till it was smooth enough to paint on. You see this rather often in musems.

The first state of the copy.

The painting awaits delivery to Europe.

Painting at the Cincinnati Art Museum

Black & white image credited to United Press International

A brief talk on painting a copy.

Painting a copy in a museum, the copy has to be a different size so it is 30” x 36”. The original is 30“x 40”, was painted by Antonio del Ceraiolo, Italy, 1520, CAM 1854.138, 30" x 40", Madonna & Child with St. John the Baptist. How it became 30" x 40" is a mystery since it was created long before English mesurements.

Henry

Susanne