Virgin at Prayer, Sassoferrato ambit, 17th century

Elegant oil-on-canvas painting depicting the Virgin in an attitude of prayer, traceable in terms of quality of execution, setting and gentleness of features to the sphere of the painter Giovanni Battista Salvi (1609-1685), active in seventeenth-century Rome.The composition takes up the devotional models typical of Sassoferrato's production: the lowered face, half-closed eyes, clasped hands and smooth rendering of the complexion give the work a strong sense of recollection and spirituality. The chromatic range, with the light blue mantle and rosy robe, fits perfectly into the iconographic tradition of the artist and his workshop.The execution presents a good pictorial quality, with particular attention to the rendering of chiaroscuro passages and veiling, elements that suggest a workshop achievement or at least of a scope close to the master.The painting has undergone cleaning by a professional restorer, who has restored legibility and chromatic depth to the work. It is in good overall condition, with normal craquelure consistent with the period.Coeval frame in carved and gilded wood, of good presence, pertinent to the painting.Work of great formal balance and strong devotional impact, suitable for both collections and representative settings.DimensionsPainting: 38 x 49 cmFrame: 65 x 55 cm