Scuola napoletana (XVIII) - San Luigi Gonzaga Napoli

Oil painting on canvas depicting a young Jesuit saint, identifiable as Saint Aloysius Gonzaga thanks to his most famous and recurring iconographic attributes. The Saint is portrayed in half-length, captured in a moment of intimate and profound religious devotion, with his gaze gently directed downward.
He wears the traditional black cassock over which is a finely lace-trimmed white cotta at the collar and along the edges. In his hands he holds a crucifix, the focal point of his meditation, while the left hand rests on the chest as a sign of humility and faith. At the bottom left complete the scene with an open sacred text (probably a missal or a prayer book) and white lilies, an iconic symbol of purity and chastity of the young saint.
Style and Era
The work can be traced to the Neapolitan School of the 18th century (Settecento). The style reflects late Baroque and 18th-century devotional painting, characterized by a sober color palette, dark backgrounds to make the figure emerge (chiaroscuro technique) and a strong pathetically expressive rendering in the features of the face, typical of depictions of Jesuit saints spread in Italy in that era.
Condition and Technical Details
Support: Oil on canvas mounted on an original wooden stretcher. The reverse canvas is in its original primed state (not relined), showing the characteristic rough weave of period supports, excellently stretched on the original frame.
Paint surface: Shows widespread and fascinating natural craquelure due to aging of binders and protective varnish. There are small, physiological pigment losses along the edges in contact with the frame, which do not compromise the reading of the work. The painting would benefit from a light surface cleaning to revive the whites of the cotta and the details of the face.
Frame: The work is set in an antique green-lacquered wooden frame with a gilded/dark inner profile, creating a stylistic continuity ideal with the other painting in the same series (the San Giovannino).
Specifications
Subject: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga in meditation with the crucifix and the lilies
Era: 18th Century (Settecento)
School: Naples
Technique: Oil on canvas
Canvas size: 77 x 60 cm
Condition: Good, in original period state (canvas never relined). Presence of natural superficial craquelure.
This lot represents a classic example of sacred art for a late baroque/18th-century quadreria. The fact that the canvas has not undergone modern relining increases its historical and collecting value for lovers of old paintings in their original state.
The frame visible in the photo is included as a courtesy and is not an integral part of the artwork. Any damage to the frame will not be grounds for claims or order cancellations.