Our Lady of Sorrows, Northern Italian School, Oil on Panel, Late 17th Early 18th Cent.

Our Lady of Sorrows, Northern Italian School, Oil on Panel,circa 1680-1720

This delicate work represents Our Lady of Sorrows, executed in oil on solid wood panel and dated between the late seventeenth century and the early eighteenth century. The Virgin is shown seated, absorbed in her sorrow, holding a crown of thorns in her left hand while with her right hand she touches her chest where the handle of a sword discreetly emerges, a traditional symbol of her suffering. The oval format and the intimate composition invite serene contemplation and devotion.

The Virgin's face, treated with soft gradations of light, conveys deep compassion without falling into dramatism, recalling the stylistic language of the models of Guido Reni, a leading figure of the Bolognese Baroque. The color palette skillfully combines the brown beige tones of the tunic with the intense blue of the mantle and the white of the veil, achieving a highly harmonious visual effect. In the background, a barely sketched landscape suggests a solitary cross, symbol of Christ’s sacrifice.

Guido Reni, born in Bologna in 1575 and deceased in 1642, is a key figure of the Italian Baroque. Educated in the classicist environment of the Carracci Academy, Reni was able to instill in his works an idealized beauty and a moving spirituality, far from the excesses of the most emphatic Baroque drama. His treatment of faces, with extraordinary sweetness and delicacy, and his impeccable handling of light, made him a model for later generations. His devotional compositions, particularly representations of the Virgin Mary and the saints, were widely disseminated through workshops, copyists, and provincially trained artists, especially in northern Italy. These indirect followers, although not reaching his mastery, helped perpetuate his stylistic influence in sacred painting during the transition from the seventeenth to the eighteenth century.

The wooden support shows visible knots and vertical grain on the reverse, clear signs of its age, reinforced by ancient craquelure and varnish oxidation, which bring an attractive patina of time. Although the piece is unsigned, it corresponds to a late follower artist from the northern Italian school, inspired by the devotional aesthetic spread by Reni and his disciples. Works like the one we present here are part of this tradition, reflecting the serenity and beauty that characterize Guido Reni’s legacy.

This oil painting is a beautiful testimony of late Baroque sensitivity and would be ideal to be reintroduced into a liturgical setting, where it would recover its spiritual function, or to be integrated into a private collection of antique art.

Incorporating this piece into your collection ensures the preservation of an authentic expression of Baroque sacred art. A singular opportunity for lovers of religious art and collectors who appreciate serene beauty and lived history.

Dimensions: 49 cm x 40 cm (19.30 in x 15.75 in)

Visible interior: 37.5 cm x 28.5 cm (14.76 in x 11 in)