Scuola Italiana (XVIII-XIX) - Scene sacre

Paired oval paintings: Scenes de la Passion du Christ

The lot consists of two oval-shaped paintings illustrating two pivotal and intensely dramatic moments of the Passion of Christ, designed to be displayed together:
Painting I: Agony in the Garden of Olives (Christ in the Garden)
Jesus is depicted kneeling, arms outstretched in acceptance of his fate. From above, among the clouds, an consoling angel appears, showing him the cup of the Passion. At the bottom right and in the foreground, wrapped in darkness, the three apostles (Peter, James, and John) are asleep, unable to keep watch with the Master.
Painting II: The Way to Calvary (The Fall under the Cross)
Christ is shown exhausted, fallen to the ground beneath the weight of the heavy wooden cross. Above him, the imposing figure of a Roman soldier in armor raises a whip (flail) ready to strike him, heightening the dynamic tension of the scene. In the background, the walls of Jerusalem can be seen and the sorrowful faces of the pious women who witness the drama.
Style, Scope and Era
The works can be ascribed to the Neapolitan School, dated to the mid-18th century. The measured painting: 40x32 cm, with frame 45x37 cm
The style draws on the great Baroque and Caravaggesque tradition of the “tenebrist” and devotional painting. The unknown master uses a severe chromatic palette, dominated by brown and earth tones, punctuated by theatrical splashes of light (the red of the garments, the divine light of the angel, and the radiant halo of Christ) to focus the viewer’s attention on the sacredness and on the pathos of the biblical narrative.
Condition and Technical Notes
Technique: Oil on canvas (applied to panel).
Pictorial surface: Shows a period patina coherent with a dense and natural network of superficial craquelure. The colors maintain good legibility, though a slight cleaning of the oxidized varnish could bring back the mid-tones and details of the background.
Frames: Both paintings are framed within splendid oval frames lacquered in white/ivory with a refined inner gold-ornate molding, ready for display.
Summary Sheet for the Lot
Type: Pair of paintings (Pendant)
Subject: Scenes of the Passion (Agony in the Garden / Fall under the Cross)
Era: Late 18th - Early 19th Century
Technique: Oil on canvas/panel
Format: Oval
Frame: Included, lacquered and gilded
Notes for collectors: Series or pairs dedicated to the Stations of the Cross or the mysteries of the Passion in oval format were intended for private devotion in noble chapels or aristocratic residences. Finding an intact pair, preserving the same hand and the same frames, always represents an excellent opportunity on the antique market.
“The visible frame in the photo is included as a courtesy and does not form an integral part of the work. Any damage to the frame will not be a valid reason for claims or order cancellations.”