Oil on canvas. Bolognese school of the late 17th century. In the foreground, occupying the entire left side of the scene, lies the sleeping Christ Child, reclined in a pose of complete abandon to sleep, with a serene smile on his face; on the right side, delimited diagonally by the raised cloth, two figures, presumably two shepherds, look at the little one with a gaze of deep and serious adoration and perform the gesture of covering him, a gesture that indicates tenderness but symbolically foreshadows Christ's sacrifice (the deposition of his body after the Crucifixion). The supine position of the Child, adored by Mary or shepherds, was introduced by Guido Reni, who created several works with this subject, later widely adopted by his followers and the Bolognese school of the 17th century. As in Guido Reni's works, the light in this painting emanates directly from the Child Jesus, illuminating the devoted faces of those who adore him. Previously relined, the painting shows signs of extensive restoration. It is presented in a period frame.
Product condition:
Product in good condition, shows minor signs of wear. We strive to present the actual condition as completely as possible with the photos. If any details are unclear from the photos, the description applies.
Frame dimensions (cm):
Height: 133
Width: 111
Depth: 7
Artwork dimensions (cm):
Height: 108
Width: 87
ARARPI0314702
