Felice Ficherelli

Felice Ficherelli (30 August 1605, San Gimignano – 5 March 1660, Florence) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Tuscany.

He was nicknamed "Felice Riposo" (Happy I Rest) for his calm and quiet demeanour.

He was sent to Florence at a very early age, and placed under the protection of Count Alberto d'Ottavio Bardi di Vernio, an aide to Cardinal Carlo de Medici.

During the 1650s, he created numerous religious works, mostly featuring the Madonna, at the chapel in the Basilica of Santo Spirito, the Church of Sant'Egidio [it], the Church of San Giovanni Battista, and the Florence Charterhouse, among others.

A copy of the later version appears to be signed by Johannes Vermeer and dated 1655, which would make it one of his earliest works.