The first painting of Girolamo Siciolante and a homage of 17^th century

I have seen this painting(Figg.1-6), with Immaculate conception, commission of Caetani family, and once in church of saint Mary of Conception, Sermoneta, today restored for will of don Leonard Mary Pompei, parish priest of Sermoneta. I have given back this painting much time ago and now, I confirm this opinion, because every stylistical character remembers Girolamo Siciolante(1521-1575): the hands of Virgin are mirror to hands of a female figure in Birth of Adonis(Fig.2), the nose is similar, and cloth is mirror to second painting of Girolamo, Virgin, Child and saints Stephan and Pieter(Fig.3),Caetani castle in Sermoneta, same density of cloth and same pleats, same cloth that we find again in mentioned painting (Fig.4); it is character that will best to other paintings, but I consider this work of Siciolante because this painting was considered by Giorgio Vasari as one of first painting that Siciolante worked; but interesting to my hypothesis is the words of Vasari, in fact he used plural and he said: “Among first paintings that he worked alone..”, I repeat, Vasari uses plural “first paintings”, therefore beyond painting for Caetani, he has worked other painting, may before this painting to Caetani; then this painting with Immaculate conception(Fig.1) can be the first, and second is painting to abbey of Valvisciolo(Fig.4), now in Caetani castle; and considering stylistical character, certainly this painting is first, because these characters are very next to second painting(Fig.4). Homage that I mentioned is on contrary by other painter that has worked in Sermoneta this is Bernardino Cesari(1565-1621), brother of most famous Cavalier d’Arpino, Bernardino worked some painting in choir of cathedral of Sermoneta(Fig.5), and he certainly took idea to composition by a painting of Siciolante this is The birth of Virgin(Fig.6) in Fugger chapel at church of saint Mary of Soul, Rome, Italy; in fact composition is very similar, we must consider that Bernardino has had a wall very long, on contrary Siciolante has had very small space, therefore Bernardino could enlarge scene, but similar is composition: the bed is same, door on left, on first plane figures are together with one on left, one figure is kneeled down on right, and same position has woman on middle, one woman on left as painting of Sermoneta; this painting of Siciolante has suggested composition to Bernardino that wanted give homage to Siciolante because costumer was Alessandro Americi, from Sermoneta that wanted this paintings at 1603.

Alessandro Lusana

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