Framed Engraving Albert Clouwet Dated 1669 True Portrait Of The Virgin Painted By Saint Luc

Traditional legend has it that, to preserve the features of the Mother of Jesus, the evangelist Saint Luke painted the portrait of the Virgin Mary while she was alive.
The original painting was destroyed in the 14th century, but an artist monk from the island of Crete - who would have had the original in front of him to paint this Madonna - made copies
One of these copies arrived in Rome in 1480: legend has it that it belonged to a rich Cretan merchant who, traveling to Rome, but feeling close to death, entrusted it to a friend. The Virgin appears to the wife of this friend and tells her that she wishes to be honored under the name of "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" and indicates the place where she wishes the sacred icon to be displayed: the church of San. Matteo, on Mount Esquiline. The work disappeared in 1798  during the destruction of the church of San Matteo; it reappeared in 1863 and Pope Pius IX entrusted it to the Redemptorists of the newly built church of Sant'Alfonso on the site of the church of San Matteo.

Albert Clouwet (Antwerp 1636 – Rome 1679) is a Flemish engraver well known in Italy for the fame of his portraits.
A few small holes and, note, the fact that the engraving was folded in half lengthwise before being framed.