17th Century Italian School, Saint Charles Borromeo in Prayer, Oil on Copper

Italian School, 17th Century. The specific artist remains unidentified. The stylistic elements and execution strongly align with Italian devotional portraiture of the seventeenth century.

Oil on copper panel. Upon close inspection of the artwork and based on the provided documentation, the piece appears to be unsigned and undated. No visible stamps or maker marks are present on the front of the panel.

The composition features a half-length depiction of Saint Charles Borromeo in a devout stance with hands clasped in prayer. He is adorned in ecclesiastical garments with a prominent radiant halo, positioned before a dark background. To the left, a crucifix and a skull rest on a surface next to a small open book, serving as traditional memento mori symbols emphasizing penitence. The overall condition is fair and consistent with its seventeenth-century origin. There is visible paint loss and flaking, particularly around the edges of the copper plate, as well as scattered abrasions and surface wear throughout the lower section of the garment and the dark background.

Artwork dimensions
Height: 7.48 inches (19 cm)
Width: 5.51 inches (14 cm)

Saint Charles Borromeo (1538-1584) was a prominent Italian cardinal and archbishop of Milan, recognized as a leading figure of the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Paintings of Borromeo proliferated in Italy following his canonization in 1610, establishing a codified iconography. The elements depicted in this panel, notably the crucifix and the skull, adhere strictly to the Tridentine decrees on sacred art, emphasizing mortality and pious meditation. Copper became a highly favored support for oil painting in Italy during the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The material was prized for providing a smooth, non-absorbent surface that allowed for fine detail and a luminous finish, making it an ideal medium for intimate, private devotional works meant for close contemplation.



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