Italian school (XX) - Sant'Ambrogio e il Salvataggio nel Naufragio (Antico Ex-Voto su Tavola "P.G.R.")

Splendid authentic fragment of Italian history, faith, and folklore. This extraordinary painting on a solid wood board is a genuine Ex-Voto ("For Grace Received"), an object steeped in spirituality and lived experience. The work bears witness to the sincere thankfulness of a faithful person (or a community) who escaped a dramatic incident at sea, safeguarded from above by divine intercession.

As per the secular religious tradition of our rural and lakeside lands, these tablets were not mere ornaments, but real bridges between man and the divine, hung in sanctuaries as a public testimony of a miracle received. A piece of antique art full of pathos, today highly sought after by international collectors of sacred art, folk art, and "art brut".

DETAILS OF THE WORK:
A dramatic and hurried scene of shipwreck and rescue. At the center of the composition rise the dark silhouettes of vessels tossed by the waves and a multitude of stylized human figures seized by panic, some having fallen into the water and rescued. In the background a coastal landscape with red-roofed houses and tall pre-Alpine mountains is outlined. In the upper left dominates the protective and devotional figure of Saint Ambrose (inscription "S. AMBROSIUS") placed in a niche, flanked by a large red heart that encloses the traditional votive initials "P.G.R." (Per Grazia Ricevuta).

Typical Naïf and Popular Expressionist style. The use of material-rich and vivid colors, the stark contrasts, and the vigorous brushstrokes confer on the work extraordinary expressive force and a unique emotional immediacy, aimed at conveying the tension of danger and the relief of the miracle that occurred.

The strong anthropological and aesthetic charge makes this object an extremely fascinating and versatile piece of art, perfect as an exclusive vintage decorative detail, wall painting, or to enrich a collection of antique folk art. An intriguing and soul-full investment.

TECHNICAL DATA
• Type of object: Popular Art / Votive Painting (Ex-Voto)
• Era: 20th Century
• Material: Oil or enamel on solid wood board
• Subject: Saint Ambrose and the miracle of saving from shipwreck (Acronym P.G.R.)
• Country of origin: Italy (Prealpine Area / Ambrosian Cult)
• Good general condition, with fascinating and natural signs of time, wear on the edges of the board, and original patinas that attest to its real historical authenticity and its display in places of worship.

Dimensions
Total frame: 31x39.5 cm approx
Panel: 17x24 cm approx