Bachiacca was a Florentine Mannerist painter who probably trained in the school of Perugino. This panel, which shows the influence of Leonardo, Andrea del Sarto and Fra Bartolomeo, contains a wealth of botanical symbolism: the Baby Jesus shows John the Baptist a pomegranate, a sign of his future Passion; the Precursor’s cross lies between two columbine flowers, indicating his future martyrdom; on the right of the Virgin we see her attribute, dog roses, and behind Joseph a thriving pomegranate tree announces the future flourishing of the Church; lastly the little wild strawberry flowers recall the mystery of the Incarnation.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the pinacoteca and the library, but in the meantime ... let's keep company! #iorestoacasa #andràtuttobene #laculturanonsiferma #lambrosiananonsiferma
