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Denys Calvaert, who was born in the Antwerp, moved to Italy at a young age and stayed there all his life. He was primarily active in Bologna, where he founded a school from which important students such as Guido Reni, Francesco Albani and Domenichino emerged. The painting reproduces the so-called Madonna della Ghiara. The composition is based on a design by Lelio Orsi (1511–1587) from 1569 for the servants of Reggio nell’Emilia, who wanted to have an old votive picture on the garden wall of their monastery renewed. In 1573, after this drawing, Giovanni Bianchi, called Bertone, painted a fresco, the picture that was venerated as Madonna della Ghiara. In 1596 a chapel was built for the fresco due to the rush of the faithful and a deaf and dumb boy who prayed to the Virgin of Ghiara became able to speak. The foundation stone for a large church was laid in 1597, the Basilica della Beata Vergine della Ghiara. Jan Sadeler made a copper engraving after the painting by Lelio Orsi in 1596, which spread the composition of the votive picture. It was taken up by numerous artists in different media and formats, as a painting, relief or sculpture. Several paintings are also attributed to Denys Calvaert. The child and Maria sit facing each other in a rocky landscape. The Blessed Mother folded her hands in adoration. The color is rich, rich, the strong colors cleverly matched. The design of the landscape refers to the Flemish training of the artist.