Virgin With Child Called Santibelli - Large Model Under Globe

Southern Italy (Naples / Campania)

Late 18th century - very early 19th century (around 1785–1805) Polychrome and gilded terracotta

Presented under its ancient glass globe, this Virgin and Child known as Santibelli fully reveals the quality of its leaf gilding and the balance of its composition. The deliberately refined presentation allows a clear reading of the volumes, the modeling of the figures and the iconographic richness, characteristic of the Neapolitan productions of the late 18th century.

Description

Important Virgin and Child in polychrome and gilded terracotta, belonging to the tradition of the Neapolitan Santibelli of the late 18th century. The Virgin, standing on clouds, is richly dressed in a golden cloak and wearing an original smooth imperial crown. She carries the Child Jesus on her arm, who blesses and holds the cruciferous sphere, symbol of Salvator Mundi. The composition is enriched with four angels arranged around and at the base, including a lying angel treated with great freedom of modeling, characteristic of quality southern productions of the late Baroque period. The whole rests on a polychrome architectural base (red, green and gold) and is presented under its ancient glass globe, an essential element of the presentation and value of this type of devotion sculpture. Very good quality of modeling and old sheet gilding; original polychrome preserved with normal wear of time. Authentic set, not reworked.

DATING AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

It is necessary to clearly distinguish two large categories of Virgins called Santibelli, often confused but historically and stylistically different. The model presented here corresponds to a Neapolitan production from the end of the 18th century - very early 19th century (around 1785–1805). It is characterized by a sober and balanced composition, original smooth imperial crowns without feathers or raised spokes, an old gilding with a sheet now patinated, as well as an individualized modeling of the figures, especially angels with varied attitudes. This typology is still directly related to the southern late Baroque and was intended for private devotion of quality (domestic oratories, family chapels). From the middle of the 19th century, Santibelli of a different type appeared, recognizable by feathered or spoked crowns, an abundance of decorative elements brought back (flowers, gilded papers, metal halos) and more standardized figures resulting from a more repetitive production. These works, although decorative and devotional, are part of a historicizing aesthetic specific to the 19th century and should not be confused with older and more sculptural models. The piece presented is thus distinguished by its anteriority, its late baroque sobriety and its modeling quality, which place it clearly upstream of the later Santibelli productions of the 19th century.

DIMENSIONS

Height of the sculpture (without globe): approx. 47 cm Total height with globe: 57 cm