Scuola Bolognese (XVII-XVIII) - Santa martire (pastello su pergamena)

Saint Martyr in Ecstasy with Palm of Martyrdom (Saint Agatha / Allegory of Faith)

Period: Late 17th - Early 18th Century

Overall dimensions 61 x 73 x 4 cm

Splendid and refined oval painting executed with the complex technique of fine pastel (dry) on a rare parchment support from the period (suede‑effect treated parchment). Unlike common paintings, this artefact stands out for its exceptional organic textured surface: the skin was anciently prepared to achieve a velvety micro-porosity. This artisanal process allowed pure pastel pigments to cling tenaciously to the fibers. The visual result is extraordinary: the blacks of the background are warm and deep, while the flesh of the Saint and the drapery of the garments enjoy a softness of chiaroscuro and a chromatic vividity impossible to replicate on paper or canvas.

The pastel is original, purely powdery and free of modern chemical fixatives, maintaining its velvety texture intact.

The work is stretched on its original wooden stretcher and is stable

TECHNICAL NOTE ON THE SURFACE:

As observable in all fine pastels of the 17th and 18th centuries preserved in their original state, the painting film is purely powdery and free of modern fixatives. Consequently, the surface releases pigment to the touch (stains the fingers if touched, see last photo). This feature is not a defect, but certifies the total authenticity and historical integrity of the 18th‑century painting material. The work should be handled exclusively from the wooden frame.

Description generated with the support of AI