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

Framed miniature; "Sacred Family". Wood, paint. Century XVIII; later framing. The oval frame made of carved and gilded wood has smooth moldings, and has an openwork upper finish made of scrolls and simplified vegetal details. On one side, Saint Joseph is presented in three quarters, wearing a tunic and habit and holding the flowered wand 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 Our Lady of Soledad de la Victoria of Madrid (or of some Soledad inspired by it, which was the first image of this dedication in Spain). Stylistically, the two images present a strong influence of Spanish Baroque models and iconography, as was common in Spanish religious art of the 18th century (compare, for example, with “Saint Joseph with Child Jesus” by Murillo preserved in the Auckland Art Gallery , or with the work on the same theme made by Alonso del Arco and today in the Museum of Navarra). The dedication of Our Lady of Solitude had as its main image the carving of Gaspar de Becerra (which was in the Convent of Our Lady of Victory in Madrid and later in the Collegiate Church of San Isidro, where it was lost), which was used as inspiration for a large number of paintings and sculptures. This type of miniatures decorated with religious images were usually used as elements of particular devotion.

· Size: 6,5x1x10 cms.