This large canvas of the Crucifixion was painted in Siena towards the end of the 16th century or the early 17th century, and it is consistent with the output known by Francesco Vanni. Born in Siena into a family of painters, Vanni trained as a young artist in Bologna and Rome, during which t.mes he came under the influence of Federico Barocci. It was not only Barocci’s distinct coloring and technique that impacted Vanni, but also Barocci’s compositions, and the present canvas comes close to Barocci’s Crucifixion in the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche in Urbino (fig. 1). Indeed, a small cleaning test in the wing of the angel at upper right of the present work reveals a vibrant coloration reminiscent of Barocci’s vibrant colors that undoubtedly impacted Vanni’s palette.

This work also bears visual affinities to Ventura Salimbeni, Vanni’s step-brother and close contemporary. It has also been proposed that this work might also be linked to artists active in the generation after Vanni, such as Giovan Battista Giustammiani called il Francesino, and Crescenzio Gambarelli.