Giulio Raibolini, called Giulio Francia

Private collection, Nurnberg, Bavaria, as by Barbara Longhi, thence by descent.

E. Negro and N. Roio, Francesco Francia e la Sua Scuola, Modena 1998, p. 295, cat. no. 257, reproduced p. 294 (as by Giulio Francia and School, see note). 

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This heavy panel in its remarkably elaborate frame is in generally good condition. The panel is more or less flat, although slightly curved from right to left. The paint layer is most likely dirty yet a fresh varnish will improve the image. The only recent damage is a recent loss in the lower center in the pink drapery. Some cracking in the child and some small cracks in the face of the Madonna and in the hand of Joseph have been retouched. Overall the retouches are extremely limited and the frame actually requires more restoration than the panel, which is in very good and respectable condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The present painting is a typical work by Giulio Francia, the younger son of Francesco Francia.  Roio (see literature) compares the present panel stylistically to one of the few secure works by the artist, a signed and dated Madonna and Child with Saints Sebastian, James and the infant Baptist in San Giovanni Battista, Fuipiano (see op. cit., p. 269, cat. no. 205).  The more attenuated forms of Giulio, rather than those of his brother Giacomo, are discernable in the present work; Roio notes, in fact, that the painting is "eseguito prevalentemente da Giulio Francia..." but that  "non è improbabile... l'intervento di uno dei suio più assidui collaboratori."