FRAMED MINIATURE; “HOLY FAMILY”. 18TH CENTURY; LATER FRAME.

Framed miniature; "Sacred Family". Wood, paint. Century XVIII; back framing. The oval frame of carved and gilded wood has smooth moldings, and has an openwork top with volutes and simplified plant details. On one side, Saint Joseph is presented three-quarters, with a tunic and habit and holding the flowered rod and carrying in his arms the Child Jesus, who is lying down and naked. On the other side you can see, also in three quarters, a miniature of the image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de la Victoria de Madrid (or of some Soledad inspired by it, which was the first image of this dedication in Spain). Stylistically, the two images are heavily influenced by Spanish Baroque models and iconography, as was customary in eighteenth-century Spanish religious art (compare, for example, Murillo's "Saint Joseph with Child Jesus" at the Auckland Art Gallery). , or with the work of the same theme made by Alonso del Arco and today in the Museum of Navarra). The invocation of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad had as its main image the carving of Gaspar de Becerra (which was in the Convent of Nuestra Señora de la Victoria in Madrid and later in the Collegiate Church of San Isidro, where it was lost), which was used as a inspiration for a large number of paintings and sculptures. This type of miniatures decorated with religious images were habitually used as elements of particular devotion.

· Size: 6,5x1x10 cms.