Pair Of Gilded Devotional Panels Depicting Scenes From The Life Of The Virgin Mary, Veneto, Late 18th Cent.

An interesting pair of devotional panels made of molded wood, decorated with relief carvings, polychrome painting, gilding, and silver plating, depicting the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple and Our Lady of the Rosary with Saint Dominic.The works likely belong to a larger Marian cycle and exemplify a refined decorative technique prevalent in northern Italy between the late 18th century and the early 19th century. The compositions are created through a complex process of modeling with stucco and pastiglia applied to the wooden support, which is subsequently gilded, silvered, and polychromed, with the figures of the sacred characters set within this structure. The technique employed is particularly refined. The surfaces are enriched with gilding, silvering, and polychromatic painting, further embellished by extensive sgraffito decorations, achieved by scratching away the surface layers of paint to reveal the underlying metallic base. This process is particularly evident in the garments, drapery, and architectural elements, where the rich interplay of ornamental motifs lends the compositions remarkable decorative vitality.The surfaces also feature fine decorative punching and burin work that further enrich the backgrounds and gilding, using techniques traceable to the Venetian ornamental tradition of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.Also of particular interest is the presence of figures created using applied prints, limited mainly to faces and hands, which were incorporated from the very beginning of the work and are perfectly integrated into the decorative structure. In terms of type, quality, and technical characteristics, these images appear to be part of the tradition of the famous devotional prints distributed by the Remondini workshop in Bassano or by producers closely linked to the same cultural sphere.The panel depicting the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple shows the young Mary being received by the High Priest within a monumental classical-style architectural setting, while the second depicts Saint Dominic kneeling as he receives the Rosary from the Virgin and Child, one of the most widespread iconographic motifs in Dominican devotion during the 17th and 18th centuries. The contoured shape of the supports, the technical consistency, and the close iconographic relationship between the scenes suggest a common origin and that they originally belonged to a more complex devotional ensemble, which was likely dismembered over time.The state of preservation is generally good. The gilded and silvered surfaces are still particularly well preserved and retain much of their original decorative quality. There are natural movements in the wooden panels, some cracks, and historical consolidation work likely resulting from the removal of the panels from their original locations. The applied figures show some slight abrasions, small losses, and limited paint retouching carried out over time, without compromising the overall legibility of the compositions.These are rare and evocative examples of Venetian devotional art from the late 18th century to the early 19th century, characterized by an unusual combination of stucco and pastiglia modeling, gilding, silvering, polychromy, and applied prints.Dimensions: approximately 43 x 37 cm per panel. For further information, photos, or technical details, please do not hesitate to contact us. Worldwide shipping available with professional packaging.