Madonna degli Scalzi with Saints Francis and Jerome

Ludovico Carracci painted the Madonna degli Scalzi with Saints Francis and Jerome around 1590, an altarpiece that exemplifies his distinctive combination of devotional fervor and naturalistic observation. Ludovico, the eldest and most emotionally expressive of the three Carracci artists, developed a style that anticipated the devotional intensity of mature Baroque painting. His altarpieces were instrumental in establishing the new Bolognese school of painting.

The composition groups the sacred figures in an asymmetrical arrangement that creates a natural, unforced devotional scene. Ludovico's warm, flickering light effects and expressive brushwork create an atmosphere of spiritual intimacy.