Portrait Of Christ, Oil On Copper Circa 1700

Southern European School, follower of Guido Reni (1575-1642): The proposed work, which represents the intense image of Christ crowned with thorns, takes up the iconography of the Ecce homo conceived by Guido Reni, a theme so famous in the artist's career and subsequently taken up in numerous variations, with slight differences from each other, which testifies to the enormous success achieved. We can admire the figure of Christ in half-length on a monochrome background, wearing the crown of thorns, symbol of royalty, which the soldiers gave him to mock him during his imprisonment. His hands are certainly tied by the same rope that surrounds his neck and ties the simple red cloth representing his sacrifice and his blood, also alluding to the royal mantle. In the painting shines through the author's ability to show not only the physical, but also the psychological description of Christ who, looking upwards, appears physically and emotionally exhausted and suffering. Nevertheless, his image is imbued with an indescribable grace, facilitated by the refinement of the palette and a soft and enveloping luminosity. Oil on copper, circa 1700, good used condition. Size of old gilt wood frame 42.5 x 34.5 cm Copper 28 x 36 cm (small pitting)