INFANT JESUS WITH A GARLAND OF FLOWERS
AN ELEGANTLY DRESSED CHILD LOOKS AT THE VIEWER WITH AN EXPRESSION THAT, AT THE TIME, COMBINES SWEETNESS AND MELANCHOLY AND SEEMS TO MEDITATE ON HIS FUTURE AS SAVIOR.
SITTING ON A CUSHION OF CLOUDS, HE HOLDS IN HIS HANDS A FLORAL GARLAND THAT SEEMS TO ALLUDE TO THE TRANSITORINESS AND CADUCITY OF WHAT IS EARTHLY. OTHER ALLUSIVE SYMBOLS ARE THE CORAL ORNAMENTS, AMULETS AGAINST EVIL.
THE ROBE, RICHLY DECORATED WITH GOLDEN STARS, REFERS TO JESUS, A RADIANT STAR.
AFTER THE COUNTER-REFORMATION, THERE WAS A GREAT DIFFUSION OF REFINED IMAGES INTENDED FOR DEVOTION AND PRIVATE MEDITATION, DEPICTING THE INFANT JESUS, OFTEN SURROUNDED BY THE SYMBOLS OF THE PASSION AND, IN ANY CASE, CAUGHT IN A CONTRAST OF FEELINGS.
HE IS A CHILD MARTYR, AWAITING DEATH ON THE CROSS, BUT ALSO SALVATION AND VICTORY OVER EVIL.
OUR PAINTING SEEMS TO BE ROOTED IN THE COUNTER-REFORMED PICTORIAL CULTURE.
THE AUTHOR, OF REMARKABLE QUALITY, SHOULD BE SOUGHT AMONG THE RANKS OF FLORENTINE PAINTERS OPERATING IN THE EARLY DECADES OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY AND WHO REFERRED PRECISELY TO THE STYLISTIC DICTATES OF THE COUNTER-REFORMATION.
All the objects that “L’ArabaFenice” offers on the market will be accompanied and enriched by a document certifying authenticity, origin, and above all the state of the work, with photographic documentation before and after any restorations.
If during the purchase phase you deem it necessary to have further images and clarifications on the state of the work, on any restoration costs, and on transport, we are available by telephone and email for any questions and clarifications.
We take care of and organize the packaging and shipping of the works you have purchased, using a serious and professional carrier: your object will travel with an insurance policy; we are able to ship worldwide, the objects will be packed using fireproof wooden crates, also suitable for air transport.
We remain at your complete disposal.
Massimo Bonino and his Staff.
