The Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and Saint Anne

Painted on a heavy copper plate, this recently discovered and extremely well-preserved work has been attributed to Innocenzo Tacconi, a pupil and close collaborator of Annibale Carracci. Tacconi had notably helped Annibale on a number of key commissions, including the decoration of Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome. The hallmarks of Annibale's influence are evident in the composition of the landscape, in the drawing of Saint John (see for example the Montalto Madonna, National Gallery, London) and the architectural capriccio in the background.