The Guardian Angel Workshop By Simone Cantarini (1612-1648)

THE PAINTING IS AN OIL ON COPPER MEASURING 20.5 X 17 CM AND REPRESENTS A DELICATE IMAGE OF THE GUARDIAN ANGEL WHO, ACCORDING TO CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, ACCOMPANIES US ON OUR PATH THROUGHOUT LIFE. THE PAINTING IS CONNECTED TO TWO ENGRAVINGS ATTRIBUTED WITH CERTAINTY TO SIMONE CANTARINI; ONE ON THE BACK OF THE PAINTING AND ONE ON THE OPPOSITE. BOTH THE PAINTING AND THE ENGRAVINGS CAN BE DATED TO 1640/1642, THEREFORE TO THE END OF CANTARINI'S MARCHE PERIOD AND THE BEGINNING OF HIS STAY IN ROME. THIS CAN BE DEDUCTIBLE FROM THE AIRY OF THE COMPOSITION AND FROM AN ACQUIRED AND MATURE SKILL IN DRAWING. ANDREA EMILIANI CONFIRMS THIS OPINION IN HIS VOLUME “EXHIBITION OF DRAWINGS OF THE 17TH CENTURY EMILIAN ART IN THE BRERA ART GALLERY, MILAN 1959 PAGE 33”