Painted "Christian charity" or also called "Roman charity" of the 17th century. Att. to Francesco Furini - Florence 1603-1646. Canvas only: 80 x 100 cm with frame (coeva): 104 x 124 cm reined and slightly restored and clean framework. Original frame the picture, attributed to Francesco Furini and dated to the 17th century, brings the significant title of "Christian charity". It embodies one of the fundamental principles of the Christian faith: love and compassion for others, represented through a family and emotionally intense scene. Furini, artist of the Florentine Baroque, known for his soft visual language and for his ability to evoke spiritual intimacy, transmits with this work a strong symbolic and moral charge. The scene represents a mother who breastfeed two children in a moment of tender humanity. This gesture is the universal symbol of care, nourishment and altruistic love, elements that embody "Christian charity". In the background, a third child is located next to an architectural arch, opening a space that evokes the outside world and connects the intimate gesture to a wider and more universal context. The female figure (charity): the woman in the center, with a composed appearance and an intense look facing the observer, symbolizes the virtue of charity. Wrapped in light clothes that highlight her motherhood, the woman represents Christian altruism, offering nourishment not only to her child, but also to another. The two children represent innocence and the need for care, evoking the idea of protection and support towards the weakest. Their nudity recalls human purity and vulnerability. The figure in the background: the child on the right, located in an area of shadow and near the arch, could represent an observer or a symbolic figure. Its distant position compared to the mother and the two central children recalls a reflection on the breadth of charity, which also embraces those who are outside the family circle. The use of soft light that affects the bodies in the center of the composition creates an intimate and meditative atmosphere. The delicate shadows give depth to the scene and highlight the typical theatricality of the Baroque. In the background, columns and strings recall the stability and majesty of the Christian faith. The arch could also symbolize the transition between the earthly and divine world. The red drape, the curtain that frames the upper part of the scene emphasizes the sacred and solemn character of the representation, as well as adding a touch of theatricality. The choice of the title Christian charity strengthens the moral meaning of the work, which invites reflection on the values of universal love, sharing and solidarity. The central figure of the mother becomes the symbol of unconditional love, a fundamental principle of Christianity. Through a daily and natural gesture, Furini manages to sublimate the humanity of the scene in a spiritual dimension, demonstrating his skill in measuring the sacred with the profane. Although the attribution is not certain, the composition, the elegance of the figures and the treatment of light are in line with the style of Francesco Furini. This painting, like other works attributed to him, underlines the artist's ability to express the beauty and grace even through simple but full of meaning.
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