Minneapolis Institute of Art acquires a painting by Francesco Francia

21/8/26 - Acquisition - Minneapolis, Institute of Art - Probably born in Bologna, where he was active throughout his life, Francesco Raibolini, known as Francia, was initially a goldsmith before turning to painting later in life, at around the age of thirty. He also seems to have been a sculptor and architect, but none of his works, if he produced any, survives today. More than a hundred paintings, however, have survived.

As a painter, he enjoyed great success. Vasari devotes a long passage to him in his Lives, nevertheless recounting that, when confronted with Raphael’s Saint Cecilia,…