19th‑Century Italian School Antique Oil on Canvas Portrait, After Pietro Perugino (c.1446–1523) – The Madonna as a Head & Shoulders Portrait After The Original Titled "The Madonna Between St. John and St. Sebastian," Circa 1493

This 19th‑century Italian School oil painting is a sensitive follower’s copy after the celebrated, larger, 1493 composition by Pietro Perugino, one of the great masters of the Italian Renaissance. The work depicts The Madonna, flanked by Saint John the Baptist and Saint Sebastian, echoing the devotional intimacy and serene balance that define Perugino’s original masterpiece.

The artist has captured the gentle modelling, harmonious palette, and contemplative stillness that made Perugino’s work so influential. Soft transitions, warm earth pigments, and a calm, devotional atmosphere all reflect the enduring appeal of Renaissance spirituality as interpreted by 19th‑century followers and workshop painters.

Presented in a later but sympathetic frame, the painting carries a warm, time‑softened surface and a pleasing patina that enhances its devotional character.

Historical Background: Perugino and the 1493 Prototype...

Pietro Perugino (c. 1446–1523) was one of the leading figures of the Italian High Renaissance and a formative influence on the young Raphael. His work is celebrated for its clarity, idealised beauty, and serene emotional tone.

The 1493 original on which this painting is based is a quintessential Perugino composition: the Madonna and Child presented with calm dignity, accompanied by Saint John the Baptist, the herald of Christ, and Saint Sebastian, the early Christian martyr associated with protection and intercession.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, Perugino’s devotional works were widely copied by artists, students, and collectors who sought to preserve and study the purity of Renaissance design. This painting belongs to that tradition — a respectful and atmospheric homage to a revered Old Master.

To the collector, this portrait is a soulful 19th-century devotional painting deeply rooted in Perugino’s Renaissance masterpiece. With its warm patina, intimate scale, and clear lineage to a major Old Master composition, it offers both historical depth and decorative elegance.