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| Artist | Fortt, Frederick W. (British architectural painter, active 1848-1861) After Sassoferrato (Italian painter, 1609-1685) |
| Previous attributions | Previously attributed to after Reni, Guido (Italian painter and draftsman, 1575-1642) Previously attributed to Fortt, James (British artist, active mid 19th century) |
| Title | The Virgin in Prayer |
| Alternative/previous titles | Nomine Virginis Mariae; Mater Dolorosa |
| Date | 1850 (dated) |
| Material | oil on canvas |
| Measurements | 35.5 x 30.9 cm |
| Inscription | back ‘Nomine Virginis Mariae / […]’ |
| Description | This is a copy of The Virgin in Prayer by Sassoferrato. At least three autograph versions of the composition exist, including one at the National Gallery, London (NG200). Here the composition is presented in an oval format. The Virgin is depicted without the child, bust-length, her eyes are downcast and her hands are together in prayer. Her hair and shoulders are covered by a white veil, she wears a red dress with a dark blue cloak over. The background is plain. |
| Subject | religion (Madonna, Virgin Mary, prayer) |
| Collection | Victoria Art Gallery, Bath |
| Current accession number | BATVG:P:1904.12 |
| Previous accession number(s) | A69 |
| Acquisition details | Bequeathed by Dr John Stothert Bartrum 1904. |
| Notes | Inscribed on back of slip: 'F (?) R, No 1 right'. Inscribed on back (on stretcher, manuscript pencil): ‘Nomine Virginis Mariae / …’ (continues mainly illegible and obliterated, but recorded in 1939: ‘… Frederick Fortt pinxt 1850 apud / Guido Reni Bononiensis [sic]’) The identity of the copyist is problematic, as there were two artists by the name of Frederick Fortt active in the second half of the nineteenth century. In his will, Dr Bartrum referred to the work as ‘Copy of a “Guido” by Frederick Fortt, …which is the last of his paintings which I have seen or know of’. Dr Bartrum bequeathed a number of works by Bath artists, which he hoped would form the nucleus of a collection of local artists’ works for the city. For the autograph National Gallery version, see C. Baker & T. Henry, The National Gallery Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London, 1995. |
| Rights status | Victoria Art Gallery, Bath |
| Author | Dr Susan Steer |
