After Murillo, 19th century

Spanish school of the XIX century.
After BARTOLOMÉ ESTEBAN MURILLO (Seville, 1617 - Cadiz, 1682).
"St. Elizabeth of Hungary curing the ringworm".
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
Measurements: 105 x 84 cm; 125 x 105 cm (frame).

This is a quality copy from the nineteenth-century period of the painting of the same name that Murillo painted between 1672 and 1676, which is part of the series of canvases made for the Hospital de la Caridad in Seville. This painting is one of the most moving and impressive of his production for its combination of realism, dramatism and spirituality. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a Franciscan queen and tertiary, is known for her life of piety and service to the poor and sick. In the painting she is depicted healing lepers and ringworm sufferers, embodying the ideal of Christian charity promoted by the Counter-Reformation. The choice of the subject is a reflection of the context of Seville in the 17th century, a city ravaged by poverty and disease, where the Hospital de la Caridad was a refuge for the destitute. Saint Elizabeth occupies the center of the scene, dressed in luxurious clothing that symbolizes her royal status, but at the same time, she adopts a humble gesture as she attends to the sick. Around her, a multitude of figures presents a contrast between the opulence of her entourage and the misery of the sick.