Mary The Shepherd, Signed Raphael Fogliardi And Dated 1795, Italian Oil Painting On Canvas

We are pleased to present this 18th-century Italian oil on canvas. A splendid religious painting depicting a devotional subject of Maria Pastorella, a Marian iconography originating in early 18th-century Spain. The reverse of the canvas bears the inscription "Raphael Fogliardi Fecit P.Q.S. 1795." The handwriting may identify the artist as Raffaele Fogliardi, born in 1776 in Apiro, a Neoclassical painter from the Marche region. In the 18th century, the initials P.Q.S. stood for "Propria Quadam Signavit/Propria Quaman Scripsit" and served to certify that the painting and the signature on the reverse had been executed directly by the artist and not by a workshop assistant.

A small painting rich in symbolic religious details. The Virgin Mary is seated at the center of the scene in the shade of a leafy tree. She wears a veil and a blue cloak over a light-colored gown. Her face, surrounded by a halo of bright stars, is gently turned downward. The Infant Jesus sits in his Mother’s lap. He holds a red cord with which he leads the sheep, toward which he turns his sweet face, while reaching out his hand toward Mary’s face. Four sheep surround the sacred figures in the foreground. One of them rests its muzzle on the Virgin’s lap, as if seeking protection.

Mary holds a long staff, symbolizing her spiritual role as guide and protector of souls (the flock). In her left hand, the Virgin holds up a flowering branch. This gesture refers directly to the institution of the Holy Rosary. The flock is safe beneath the tree’s foliage (a symbol of the Church and the Cross). The sheep that trustingly rests its head on Mary’s lap represents the converted soul that has abandoned all fear of evil to surrender completely to maternal grace. The scene unfolds in an idyllic rural setting, a reflection of the earthly Paradise rediscovered through Redemption. In the background, mountains and a sky of warm hues suggest dawn and the birth of a new era.

A wonderful painting for its artistic quality and profound religious message. If you love ancient Italian sacred art, you absolutely must add this splendid painting to your collection.

The work is presented in a distinctive antique gilded wooden frame. The frame features an inner molding lacquered in a shade of blue, echoing the colors of the Virgin’s mantle, and is decorated on the outside with a braided cord motif typical of Baroque or late 18th-century artistic craftsmanship.

The painting is on its original canvas. It may have undergone subsequent restorations to adapt it to the current frame, which, although an 18th-century antique, is likely not the original one. The frame has also been restored, including a repainting in blue.

Frame dimensions (cm):
Height: 44.5
Width: 37.5
Depth: 4
Painting dimensions (cm):
Height: 32
Width: 25