Spanish School, circa 1800

Spanish School, circa 1800.
"Our Lady of Mercy."
Face and hands carved from wood and polychromed. Textile garments with lace and metal ornaments.
Gold-plated silver crown with hallmark.
Accompanied by devotional jewelry and a reliquary.
Displayed in a wooden and glass display case.
Shows slight wear on the fabrics and ornamental elements, consistent with its age.
Measurements: 72 x 40 x 30 cm.

A candlestick image dating from around 1800, identifiable as the Virgin of Mercy by the coat of arms of the Mercedarian Order depicted on the front scapular. The scapular features three embroidered cartouches: the upper one with a silver cross on a red field and the bars of Aragon; the central one with a heraldic motif; and the lower one with four eight-pointed stars. The face, delicately sculpted with rosy cheeks and a melancholic expression, is accompanied by hands open in a gesture of intercession.

The figure is dressed in an elaborate white ensemble, embellished with lace and metallic thread embroidery. Of particular note is the silver-gilt crown, featuring an openwork design and decorated with colored gemstones. Among the devotional jewels, a pectoral in the shape of a flaming Sacred Heart stands out, featuring a Marian monogram on a blue background, surrounded by transparent and blue gemstones. It is accompanied by a small oval reliquary made of silver filigree, suspended from a red ribbon with gold braid, whose phylactery “S. Philip. Ap.” identifies it as a relic of Saint Philip the Apostle.

The image stands on a pedestal ornamented with gilded volutes, inside a glass-fronted wooden display case with a green fabric backdrop. Candlestick images played a significant role in Spanish religious life during the 18th and 19th centuries, both in ecclesiastical spaces and in private oratories. Their regalia were frequently enriched through donations and votive offerings, which served as testimonies to Marian devotion and worship.