Italian school (XVIII) - Cristo e l’adultera

Italian School of the 18th Century

“Christ and the Adulteress”

Oil on canvas
Measurements: 94 × 76 cm
Measurements with frame: about 107 × 86 cm

Description

The painting depicts the biblical episode of Christ and the adulteress. At the center of the composition is Christ, kneeling, tracing with his index finger some marks on the floor, in accordance with the account in the Gospel of John. In front of him is represented the young adulteress, richly dressed, accompanied by a male figure in Orientalizing attire; behind Christ gather the onlookers and the accusers, while a red-clad figure closes the scene on the left.

The arrangement is built according to a theatrical staging of the figures, distributed on different planes and set within an open architectural backdrop opening onto a wooded landscape and a sky threaded with clouds. Particular attention is given to the rendering of the garments, especially the adulteress’s dress, characterized by broad drapery and warm tones, ochre and brown-gold.

The palette, dominated by browns, deep greens, reds, and earth tones, together with the scenographic construction and the typology of the figures, appears coherent with an Italian production of late Baroque/Eighteenth-Century culture.

Frame

Carved and gilded wooden frame, characterized by a wide band with vertical grooves, inner profile decorated with vegetal motifs and outer edge with an interlaced motif. The gilding shows widespread abrasions, wear, small losses, and signs of use, particularly evident along the edges and the most protruding parts.

The frame is presumably not original to the painting and is from a later period; it should be considered an accessory element of the work.

Condition Report

The painting presents a decent general state of conservation for its age, with evident previous conservation interventions.

From the verso the canvas is lined/re-lined, with the presence of some small patches of reinforcement applied to the back, attributable to previous interventions on tears or gaps of the support. The wooden frame appears to be from a later period than the canvas.

The painted surface shows widespread craquelure, irregular and consistent with aging of materials, more noticeable in the dark areas. Abrasions, small losses and discontinuities of the paint, as well as areas that in the photographs appear to have undergone retouches and previous restorations, are also observable.

The surface varnish appears uneven and partly altered, with variable gloss and reflections particularly evident in close-up photographs. Some areas seem to have surface deposits and an overall yellowing of the varnish that tends to mute chromatic contrasts.

The work has previously undergone conservation and restoration interventions. A direct inspection by a qualified restorer is recommended to verify adhesion of the paint film, extent of the consolidations, and the condition of the lining.

Ideal for collecting and investment

- The frame currently present is included with the sale of the work as a courtesy. Any transport damage related to the sole frame cannot be subject to refund or dispute.

Photographic note: Some images of the work were professionally taken with the aid of artificial lighting (studio spotlight) in order to highlight more clearly the painting’s characteristics, the material, the chroma, and the conservation state of the painting. Color perception and brightness may therefore vary slightly from viewing the work under natural or ambient light.

With a lawful provenance document under the law - Expertise

Professional packing and insured shipping