A beautiful painting depicting the Child Jesus, following the typical iconography of the Salvator Mundi: he looks directly at the viewer, holds the globus cruciger (the globe surmounted by a cross symbolizing Christ's supremacy over the earthly world) in his right hand, and his left hand is raised in a gesture of blessing.
The image stands out against a dark background, typical of this particular painting genre, which uses delicate floral garlands for ornamental and illusionistic purposes. These garlands, like those painted by Seghers around the mid-17th century, were commissioned from the still-life painter by the artist who completed the painting with a secular or religious portrait.
It is possible that the painting was created by two painters; the first was asked to, or had already prepared, the still-life garland which serves as a clipeus for the sacred subject requested by the commission, in this case a young beardless Christ holding an earthly globe, a Salvator Mundi, which may have been executed by a painter of the Roman school, likely active in Sabina and Umbria, given that this painting comes from a historic palace in the latter region.
Indeed, there are stylistic connections with the early works of Girolamo Troppa, who, in his youth, is documented as practicing the execution of figures and portraits in this particular genre of emblematic and commemorative still life popular in the second half of the seventeenth century.
The garland in question is adorned with an incredible variety of flowers, rendered with meticulous attention to naturalistic detail and distinguished by an elegant structure combined with vibrant and brilliant colors.
The original 17th-century frame in which the painting is set is magnificent, with marbled ochre lacquer and fascinating shades of brown, as well as pure gold gilding on the inner edge.
The canvas measures 75 cm x 100 cm; with the frame, it measures 100 x 114 cm.
The sale includes a historical certificate of authenticity. For further photos and information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
www.antichitabompadre.com
