Mid-18th Century Painting With Saint Agatha

A beautiful oil painting on canvas, enclosed in a carved and gilded wooden frame of the time. This work of art stands out for its remarkable mastery in the use of chiaroscuro, skillfully managed to emphasize the pictorial rendering of the details. At the center of the painting, stands Saint Agatha, the patron saint of Catania, depicted with her gaze turned upwards in a state of ecstasy. Her figure reaches a high degree of mystical perfection, as if she were in rapture, ready to rise to unite with the Holy Trinity. In this depiction, Saint Agatha appears without a halo and shows soft curly hair that falls along her shoulders. Gracefully, she holds a drape that covers her naked body, preserving the dignity of the viewer. It is important to remember that her passion and martyrdom included the removal of her breasts, an event that marks her history. Particularly noteworthy are the elaborate details, such as the earrings and the pearl diadem that falls delicately on the forehead. This is a symbolic and powerful painting, imbued with high pictorial refinement, attributed to an anonymous painter from central Italy, active around the middle of the 18th century.

Measurements: H x W x D total 81 x 67 x 4cm; H x W work only 72.5 x 57.5cm