Spanish school of the last third of the 18th century

Spanish school; last third of the XVIII century.
"Dolorosa".
Oil on canvas.
In need of restoration. Presents pictorial detachment and breaks.
Measurements: 74.5 x 56 cm, 78 x 59 cm (frame).

In this devotional work the painter presents Mary as Mater dolorosa, located on a neutral and dark background that highlights the monumentality of the figure. The Virgin is portrayed at this moment after the death of her Son, suffering and feeling a deep pain that appears symbolically represented with the form of a sword piercing her heart. The devotion to the sorrows of the Virgin has its roots in medieval times, and was especially spread by the Servite order, founded in 1233. There are many and varied iconographic representations that have as central theme the Virgin Mary in her Sorrowful aspect, being the first of them in which she appears next to the Child Jesus, who sleeps oblivious to the future of suffering that awaits him. The image of devotional character, is inscribed in an oval in whose perimeter the legend can be read; ECCE MATER TUA (Here is your mother).it is worth mentioning that, during the Spanish colonial domination, a mainly religious painting was developed, destined to Christianize the indigenous towns. The local painters were modeled on Spanish works, which they followed literally in terms of types and iconography. The most frequent models were the harquebusier angels and the triangular virgins, however, in the early years of the 19th century, already in times of independence and political opening of some of the colonies, several artists began to represent a new model of painting with its own identity.