Among the works available for private sale at Sotheby’s right now is this one by Giovanni Battista Salvi, called Sassoferrato (1609-1685). The Madonna in Prayer seems an appropriate offering for the time the whole world is now going through. Despite being an accomplished portraitist, Sassoferrato specialized in easel paintings of a devotional nature, usually representing the Madonna alone or with the Christ Child. He was primarily employed by his patrons to provide images for personal spiritual contemplation, and the Counter Reformation’s increased emphasis on veneration of the Virgin and the Marian cult meant Sassoferrato’s intense and moving depictions of the Madonna were much in demand. The asking price for this work is £275,000.
