Christ Ecce Homo,after Guido Reni, 18th-century Gobelins Tapestry, With Documentation

This is a textile interpretation (canvas/tapestry ) representing Ecce Homo or a head of Christ crowned with thorns after Guido Reni (known as The Guide), an Italian Baroque painter who was widely copied in the 18th and 19th centuries.  The weaving is extremely fine, seeking to imitate the pictorial rendering of the skin tones and the gaze turned towards the sky and is meant for an oval frame. From the 18th century, the appearance of the materials, the support, and the accompanying paper corresponds to a work of devotion or artistic craftsmanship from the 18th century. A handwritten document accompanies it: "Christ on the Cross (from the Guide)This work dates from the 18th century and was not executed in France, but in Italy with wool of English origin (expert of the Gobelins).  In 1840 at Digne in the Basses-Alpes, Mr. de Sossy of Italian origin left his fortune and his works of art to his two nieces, Mrs. Liébert and Mrs. de Villeroy, the latter not being wealthy, abandoned the works of art and preferred money. This painting was given away for the sum of 3,000 francs. This was happening forty years ago in a country where the mania for antiquities was not yet fashionable. Which makes us think that it must have increased in value.”