19th Century Florentine Religious Miniature – Pietà

Medium: Gouache or tempera on natural material
Framed dimensions:  5.7 x 6.6 cm
Signed: lower right
Origin: Florence, Italy
Date: c. 1830–1870

A finely executed 19th-century devotional miniature painting depicting the Pietà—the Virgin Mary mourning the body of Christ. Rendered with exquisite detail, the scene captures deep emotional expression through delicate brushwork and soft, layered coloring. Gilded halos highlight the sanctity of the figures, set against a subtly textured ground.

The artwork is housed in its original period brass frame, with hand-folded tabs and a protective glaze. The reverse is sealed with traditional Florentine patterned paper featuring red fleur-de-lis motifs, characteristic of 19th-century religious workshops in Tuscany.

The piece is discreetly signed in the lower right margin: “P.O. Pol…”, suggesting attribution to a now-lost or regional Florentine devotional artist active in the mid-19th century.

Excellent overall condition. Minor age-related wear to the backing and frame, consistent with age. Painting surface is clean and vibrant, with no retouching observed under magnification.