The composition is his favourite triangle, touched in with the
flowing lines of the mother seated on the ground with the two children
before her. S. Joseph is in the background. The greatest softness of
flesh tints must have been perceptible when new, for, "in spite of the
abrasions produced by time, the delicate tones brought out by
transparent glazes fused one over another are apparent." The landscape
with an echo subject of the flight into Egypt is thought by Crowe and
Cavalcaselle to be by Albertinelli.
In 1510 the partners had a large order from Giuliano da Gagliano, who,
on the 2nd November, 1510, and 14th January, 1511, paid, in two rates,
the sum of 154 ducats. The picture, which is Fra Bartolommeo's own
painting, unfortunately cannot be traced.
In 1511 a long list of works are enumerated--a _Nativity_, valued
two ducats, a _Christ bearing the Cross_, and an _Annunciation_, sold
to the Gonfaloniere for six ducats--pictures which are dispersed in
England, Pavia, &c.; but the masterpiece of the time is the _Marriage of
S. Catherine_, now in the Louvre.
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