Emilian school of the 17th century. "TEMPTATION".

Oil painting on canvas, cleaned and relined. Dimensions cm 35x47, with frame 47x58. Examined with a Wood's lamp, the painting shows some non-invasive restoration retouching. The scene takes place inside a room, perhaps the monk's cell. A semi-undressed young woman is the temptation, perhaps real or perhaps imaginary, of the friar, who tries to ward her off with a stick, lit from the fire under the fireplace, depicted on the left. Observing carefully, always on the left behind the friar, we see a diabolical face, drawn by the smoke, rising from the flame of the stick. The almost geometric architectural construction is in stark contrast with the movement of the figures and the draping of the garments. I find the subject represented here curious and interesting, considering the historical moment in which it was executed. It reminds us of the angry commandments of the church on carnal temptations, associated with the low consideration of women, see photo.