We are pleased to present this 18th century Italian school oil on canvas. A splendid religious painting depicting a devotional subject of Mary the Shepherdess, Marian iconography originating in Spain from the early 18th century. The back of the canvas bears the inscription "Raphael Fogliardi Fecit P.Q.S. 1795". Attributable to the artist Raffaele Fogliardi, born in 1776 in Apiro, neoclassical painter from the Marche region. In the 18th century, the acronym P.Q.S. it referred to "Propria Quadam Signavit/Propria Quaman Scripsit" and served to certify that the painting and the signature on the back had been created directly by the artist himself and not by a workshop assistant.
A small painting full of religious symbolic details. The Virgin Mary is seated center stage in the shade of a leafy tree. She wears a veil and a blue cloak over a light robe. His face, surrounded by a crown of bright stars, is gently turned downwards. Baby Jesus sits on his Mother's lap. He holds a red cord in his hand with which he holds the sheep, towards which he turns his sweet face, while he holds out the other to indicate Mary's face. Four sheep surround the sacred figures in the foreground. One of them rests its muzzle on the Virgin's lap, almost as if seeking protection.
Mary holds a long staff, which symbolizes her spiritual role as guide and protector of souls (the flock). In her left hand, the Virgin raises a flowering branch. This gesture refers directly to the institution of the Holy Rosary. The flock is safe under the foliage of the tree (symbol of the Church and the Cross). The sheep that confidently rests its muzzle on Mary's lap represents the converted soul that has abandoned all fear of evil to abandon itself completely to maternal grace. The scene takes place in an idyllic rural setting, a reflection of the earthly Paradise rediscovered through the Redemption. In the background, mountains and a warm-toned sky suggest the dawn and birth of a new era.
A wonderful painting for its pictorial quality and profound religious message. If you love ancient Italian sacred art, you absolutely must add this stunning painting to your collection.
The work is presented in a particular antique gilded wooden frame. The frame has an internal molding lacquered in a light blue shade, which recalls the colors of the Virgin's mantle, and is decorated externally with a woven cord motif.
The painting is in excellent condition consistent with its age, in first original canvas. It may have undergone a small cut on the sides to be adapted to the current conice which was restored and repainted in a later period.
Frame size (cm):
Height: 44.5
Width: 37.5
Depth: 4
Dimensions of the painting (cm):
Height: 32
Width: 25
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SILVER Seller in Alessandria, Italy
