Triptych Of Christ, The Madonna, St Michael, And Saint Francis 18th Century Spanish

This extraordinary and highly decorative triptych was produced in 18th Century continental Europe (probably Spain) for private devotion in a family chapel. It opens on hinges to reveal a central panel consisting of a depiction of the Madonna surrounded by angels. Above is a panel portraying Christ holding an orb and blessing with his right hand. The left panel depicts the warrior Saint Michael the Archangel standing upon the dragon/Satan and his attribute, a pair of scales to weigh the souls of the departed. The right panel contains Saint Francis of Assisi bearing the wounds of Christ’s passion, the stigmata. Both side panels contain a trompe l’oeil bas-relief of putti and a king or a pope. An elaborate family coat of arms is illustrated on the outside of the door panels. It is a highly ornate and an exquisite devotional artwork. The triptych form arises from early Christian art, and was a popular standard format for altar paintings from the Middle Ages onwards. Painted and sculptors used it. From the Gothic period onward, both in Europe and elsewhere, altarpieces in churches and cathedrals were often in triptych form. Provenance:
Private collection Spain Measurements
Open - Height 33cm, Width 42cm, Depth 12cm
Closed - Height 33cm, Width 21cm, Depth 5cm