How does Madonna and Child with St. Anne (Dei Palafrenieri) elucidate its History?
Caravaggio received this commission from the Confraternity for Palafrenieri on December 1, 1605. He worked on the piece and completed it in under four months. It is unknown as to why the Confraternity picked Caravaggio to do the altarpiece; it is known that he was paid 25 scudi for the painting, according to a document found by scholar Luigi Spezzaferro, dated October 31st. The altarpiece was placed in the new basilica on April 8 and was removed again on April 16, to the Palafrenieri's Church of St. Anne, a church in honor of St. Anne.
St. Anne Caravaggio