Spanish school; first half of the 17th century.

Spanish school; first half of the seventeenth century.
"Virgin and Child.
Oil on canvas.
Preserves original canvas.
Presents restorations.
Measurements: 128 x 97 cm.
In the present work the painter, belonging to the Spanish school, offers us a scene of very long tradition in the Christian West, the Virgin Mary seated, embracing and holding in her lap Jesus Child. The artist concentrates exclusively on the two figures that, although absorbed in the daily routine of children's play, present this divine union. Virgin and Child are placed facing the viewer, the artist manages, especially, to convey the naturalness of the gesture of the child. Since the end of the Middle Ages, artists insisted on representing, in an increasingly intense way, the bond of affection that united Christ with his Mother and the close relationship between them, this was encouraged in the Renaissance and, naturally, in the Baroque period, when the exacerbation of emotions characterizes much of the artistic production.
Throughout the history of art, it is common for many works to be executed by disciples, copying the original model of the master under his supervision. In this way, it was common that when the work had already taken shape, it was intervened by the master, who would retouch the important areas or correct the mistakes of the pupils. The hands of the Virgin under the arm of Jesus, the eyes, or certain incarnations reveal a clear virtuosity.