Provençal Santibelli - Virgin And Child On A Cloud With Cherubs - Polychrome Terracotta, 18th Century

On its 18th-century gilded wooden base. Elegant polychrome terracotta santibelli
Elegant polychrome terracotta santibelli, displayed on its gilded wooden base, a work from Provence or of Genoese influence, datable to the second half of the 18th century, around 1760-1790.
The Virgin and Child stand on a broad cloud from which three winged cherubs emerge, with chubby and expressive faces typical of Ligurian Baroque sculpture.
The Virgin is dressed in a robe and a golden cloak with flowing drapery, tied on the chest, whose Baroque folds reflect an old modeling style and a confident hand.
The Christ, with a serious and focused expression, holds a globus cruciger in his left hand.
Both figures wear a ribbed spherical crown, a rare form that clearly refers to Genoese models imported into Provence in the 18th century.
The flesh tones, in ochre-brown shades, as well as the dark brown hair, are typical of pre-19th century polychrome work.
The cherubs have wide-set eyes beneath fine, arched eyebrows, a stylistic feature characteristic of the Ligurian Baroque productions.
The statuette is hollow, as often seen in these terracotta pieces for private chapels.
The underside shows finger-modeled marks, uneven walls, and variable thickness, characteristics of 18th-century artisanal production.
The piece rests on a magnificent 18th-century gilded wooden circular tripod base, composed of three stepped sections. The base is beautifully grained and decorated with two rows of beads. It is a valuable element confirming the statuette's privileged status in a domestic oratory.

Total height: 34 cm.

Very good overall condition, with no restorations or re-gluings.
Missing phalanges on one of the Virgin's hands.
The old polychrome is well preserved, with some wear consistent with age.