European School (XIX-XX) - NO RESERVE - Allegory of Abundance

ALLEGORY OF ABUNDANCE (ABUNDANTIA)

European painting of classical tradition on glass

1. TECHNICAL DATA

Author: Anonymous

School: European, pictorial tradition of allegorical painting

Era: Indeterminate chronology, possibly 19th–20th centuries

Style: Figurative painting inspired by classical and baroque

Technique: Oil on glass

Dimensions of the work: 34 x 25 cm

Dimensions with frame: 40 x 32 cm

Subject: Allegory of Abundance (Abundantia)

Signature: No visible signature

Documentary provenance: Reverse with stamps from the establishment Bellas Artes Prócer, 345 Balmes Street, Barcelona.

Condition: The surface shows small irregularities, spots and visible alterations, especially in the dark background. No technical examination available to determine their nature. Gold frame with slight signs of age. It is advisable to review the photographs carefully.

2. DESCRIPTION

Interesting allegorical painting on glass depicting a female figure iconographically identifiable with Abundantia, personification of abundance and prosperity in the classical tradition.

The young woman appears half-length, dressed in a white tunic and a wide blue mantle, while in her hands she holds a cornucopia full of fruits, a traditional symbol of fertility, natural wealth and the earth's generosity.

Her face, in profile and slightly elevated, presents a serene and contemplative expression. The contrast between the delicate flesh tones, the deep blue of the garments and the dark background gives the composition a notable visual presence.

3. STYLISTIC, COMPOSITIONAL AND EXPRESSIVE ANALYSIS

The painting belongs to a figurative tradition of classical inspiration, with elements typical of allegorical representations spread during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods.

The clarity of drawing stands out, the delicate modulation of the pinkish tones of the face and the decorative treatment of the folds of the blue mantle.

The composition revolves around the female figure and the cornucopia, whose warm golden color introduces an attractive chromatic contrast.

The idealized expression of the character and the absence of spatial references create an timeless atmosphere, characteristic of images conceived to represent abstract concepts through human figures.

4. SIGNATURE, SCHOOL AND ARTISTIC CONTEXT

No signature is observed that could identify the artist.

The work stylistically belongs to the extensive European tradition of allegorical representations inspired by mythology and the iconography of Antiquity.

The female figure with a cornucopia was especially common in painting and decorative arts of the 17th and 18th centuries, although its use continued in later periods.

Among the great masters who cultivated this iconography is Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640), author of an Allegory of Abundance, made around 1630 and conserved in the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo.

This reference helps understand the historical importance of the theme, without implying authorship or compositional dependence with the present painting.

The concrete chronology of the work remains open. Its traditional style alone does not allow determining whether it was executed in the 19th century or later, so it would be necessary to study the glass, pigments and the execution process directly.

5. OTHER INTERESTING DATA

Glass painting constitutes a long-standing European artistic modality, especially valued for the luminosity and visual depth it can provide.

One of its historical variants is reverse painting on crystal, a procedure in which details are applied before the background layers, reversing the usual sequence of painting execution. Identifying this procedure in the present piece requires material verification.

The work bears on its back two stamps from the establishment Bellas Artes Prócer, located at 345 Balmes Street in Barcelona.

Galería Prócer developed documented artistic activity during the 1970s. These stamps constitute an interesting testimony of the piece's material or commercial history, though they do not allow dating the work precisely.

From an iconographic point of view, the cornucopia comes from classical mythology and became one of the great universal symbols of prosperity. Its depiction with fruits expresses the idea of a generous nature capable of providing sustenance and well-being.

The work is presented in a sober gold frame that enhances the luminosity of the figure against the dark background.

An allegorical painting of attractive character, interesting both for its traditional iconography and for the uniqueness of its support.

6. SHIPPING AND CONDITIONS

The work will be professionally packed in a custom-made box with rigid and cushioned protections suitable for the fragility of glass.

We ship worldwide.

Especially distant destinations or countries outside the European Union may incur additional costs, which will be communicated in accordance with applicable conditions and rates.

The frame is considered a supplementary element of presentation, without prejudice to the rights corresponding to the buyer.

The photographs form an integral part of the description and allow a detailed assessment of the work's condition.

PROPOSED ENGLISH TITLE

Allegory of Abundance (Abundantia) — European School, Painting on Glass