The Holy Family with Saint

One of the most frequent subjects in Signorelli’s production is the Madonna and Child, or Holy Conversation, in a roundel. A number of examples have come down to us, attributed with more or less convincing arguments to Luca, and all of them including the work of assistants. The painting in the Pitti Palace is one of these roundels.

The studious young woman may be identified as St Catherine of Alexandria or St Barbara.