The Guardian Angel, Roman Painter 17th-18th century

Roman painter, 17th-18th century
Ciro Ferri (Rome, 1634 – Rome, 1689) follower of

The Guardian Angel (Tobias with the Archangel Raphael)

Oil on the teIa

100 cm x 75 cm.
in antique frame 126 x 99 cm.

The protagonist of our pleasant canvas is the Archangel Raphael, immortalised while protecting a child [1]: the meaning of this iconography, which spread especially between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries, has taken on a broader meaning over time, thus ending up becoming the emblem of the guardian angel whose task is to protect every human being.

[1] In the 'Book of Tobit' the angel Raphael was invoked by Tobit, a just and poor man, to accompany his son Tobias during a journey; Raphael showed Tobias the safest path and saved him more than once, without ever revealing himself as an angel, except at the end of the story.

The apterous Angel (without wings, therefore before revealing his identity) is depicted here with the appearance of a young man with delicate features and a robe tight at the waist and punctuated by ample drapery. The child he holds with him, innocently frightened, turns his eyes to the sky, where through a tear in the clouds appears the light of divine grace.

The stylistic and figurative characteristics of the painting recall the echoes of seventeenth-century Roman painting, distinguished by its refined style, capable of uniting the Baroque language, by definition sumptuous, with elements of classicist ancestry.

In particular, observing the iconographic characteristics and the design features, we find the approach to the style of Ciro Ferri (Rome 1633 – 1689) fitting, one of the best students of Pietro da Cortona, who took up his drawing mastery and colouristic knowledge.

Compared to the master, however, he differed in his style, which was more classic and delicate, embellished with luminosity and greater attention to detail: our canvas, of excellent quality, allows us to find all these characteristics.

In this case, while appreciating the quality of the painting, the work of another hand is evident, that of a pupil of the painter or probably a follower active at an immediately subsequent time.

Finally, it is worth mentioning the added value of the enchanting landscape view on the left, where we can recognize the famous Dicle Bridge on the Tigris River, the place where the story of 'Tobias and the Angel' takes place with its unmistakable arches, and the Diyarbakır Fortress, in present-day Turkey (now a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with a pleasant golden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic card.

We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.

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