Rutilio Manetti Siena 1571 - 1639

Manetti's oeuvre is broadly characterised by two distinct phases in his production: the paintings which pre-date his trip to Rome in 1615 and those that come afterwards. Manetti was born in Siena and his early works are strongly reminiscent of those of his sienese contemporaries, Francesco Vanni and Ventura Salimbeni. His trip to Rome brought him into contact with the paintings of Caravaggio and Guercino, amongst others, and his paintings take on a much stronger, more naturalistic, and altogether more "caravaggesque" feel after this date. The present composition clearly falls into the latter category and the prolific use of red, in particular the cloak of the turbaned man, are reminiscent of Florentine Seicento painting and this might suggest a date in the 1620s, when Manetti was in Florence. The figure of the man lower left would appear to be a portrait; most likely that of the patron who commissioned the work, given his prominent role in the miraculous event.