The Roman art school is among the most significant ones in Italy. It was there that the main artistic trends of European art developed — Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque and Caravaggism. In the Tambov Regional Picture Gallery collection, the Roman school is represented by the Madonna and Saints painting which belongs to the brush of Italian artist Francesco Trevisani.

In Rome, Francesco Trevisani turned to the Baroque style. His teacher at the time was Italian painter Carlo Maratta, known as Maratti.

In 1713 Maratti died and Trevisani replaced him as one of the leading artists of Rome. He painted altars and pictures on religious and mythological subjects. During that period the artist began copying original works by Italian Baroque masters Guido Reni, Paolo Veronese and Pietro da Cortona.

In the Madonna and Saints painting Francesco Trevisani depicted Virgin Mary and Child on the throne and the figures of saints kneeling to her. The angels hovering above them embody the triumph of Light.

In West-European art, this subject is known as Communion of Saints in Holy Conversation. The saints could be Old Testament prophets, Judean Kings or apostles in communion. In paintings of this kind, artists most frequently depicted the saints under whose patronage the customer’s family was. Art scholars have not found out yet who commissioned this work to Trevisani.