'Mary With Jesus and St. John the Baptist', 17th Century Milanese School Oil

Description

A late 17th century, devotional oil showing the Virgin Mary with Jesus and St. John the Baptist. Displayed in a … more A late 17th century, devotional oil showing the Virgin Mary with Jesus and St. John the Baptist. Displayed in a fine and period, hand-carved and gilt-wood frame.
Framed dimensions: 13.5 H x 2.25 D x 11.25 W inches.

The Virgin cradles the young Christ who holds St. John's long cross. St. John, dressed in animal skin, gazes up towards his cousin and holds a red rose above a crown of thorns, a prefiguration of the passion of the Christ. The artist has employed intense chiaroscuro to bring our attention to the dramatically lit figures. We are pleased to offer this well-preserved painting that, happily, retains its exceptionally fine baroque frame.

It was common practice for early Christians to model divine images after figures that were familiar through pre-existing mythologies. Helios and Mercury became the model for Jesus; the Virgin Diana and Juno, the queen of the gods, became the Virgin Mary, the queen of Heaven. The Greek Heracles, and the Roman Hercules, club in hand and dressed in the skin of a lion, was passed on to Christian iconography to become John the Baptist, who carried a staff and wore garments made of camel hair.

Provenance: Collection of Mrs. H. R. Boynton, Santa Barbara, CA.
Formerly with: Helmer Ericson, Santa Barbara, CA less