17th century Flemish school

Flemish school of the 17th century.
"Virgin of the Pópulo".
Oil on copper.
Frame of the twentieth century, with faults.
Measurements. 22 x 17,5 cm; 37 x 31 x 3,5 cm (frame).

The Virgin of the Pópulo, that means Virgin of the People, is a Marian invocation that has its origin in Italy as a result of the Salus Populi Romani venerated in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and that probably dates from the VI century. Throughout Europe it was a model profusely represented, and although it presents variants, it also has common elements that make it recognizable. Here, in this oil on copper, the framing frames the stylized features of the Virgin's face, bordered by a gold ribbon that has been embroidered on the dark veil. The iconography comes from a tradition in which the icon of the Virgin of the People was hieratic, but being a Flemish painting of the Baroque period, the features and chromatic ranges are softened to a great degree. Flemish Baroque representations often idealized Mary's features, giving her a serene and ethereal aspect that reinforced her sacred character.