painting (oil and tempera): ["Madonna and Child"]

"'probably by an assistant of Michelangelo' (says Sir Kenneth Clark) 'follower of Pontornio' (says John Shearman)" [Register] The Virgin is represented in pink and lilac robes as a half length figure standing before a ledge. She looks down at the plump, curly-haired Christ child, swaddled in a white cloth, who lies asleep on the ledge. The Virgin's head is bare and her hair rests on her right shoulder. Both mother and child have a nimbus. Virag 20/12/2004, Between 1984 and 1985, a research assistant, Dr. Brendan Cassidy, was employed by Nottingham Castle Museum to research and write a catalogue of the foreign oil paintings in their collection. The catalogue never materialised, but drafts and notes relating to Cassidy's research can be found in the Artist Files and in the Archive at the museum. All references to Cassidy relate to these documents. NCM 1910-62 was restored in 1980 by Warwick MacCallum, Sheffield, when paint losses all over the surface were refilled and retouched. X-rays were taken. On the front: Some re-touchings can be seen to the right of the Madonna's head On the reverse: Examination of the reverse was cursory as NCM 1910-62 could not be taken off the rack in store. There is considerable worm damage, especially in the bottom left corner and the channels have been exposed, suggesting that the panel has been filed down. Three newer bands of wood have been inserted into the original panel across its width. This was presumably done during the 1980 restoration? 1. On new cross band - white label: "44" 2. On new cross band - label: Royal Academy of Arts, Winter exhibition, 1962. Artist, date and title given as: "Michelangelo, School, C.1525 Madonna Serial number, 324" (This relates to NCM 1910-62s near inclusion in the Royal Academy Winter exhibition of 1962 - it was returned at the last minute by the exhibition organisers) 3. On new cross band - NCM accession number 4. On panel, in black paint: "427" (?) Virag 20/12/2004, Collection of William Graham M.P. (1817-1885); by marriage to Kenneth Augustus Muir Mackenzie from 1874; on loan to Nottingham Castle Museum (then Midland Counties Art Museum) from 1879; Given by Sir Kenneth Muir Augustus Mackenzie to Nottingham Castle Museum, 10/05/1910.