Andalusian School; XVIII century.

Andalusian School; XVIII century.
"Virgin of the Rosary.
Oil on canvas. Relined.
It has a brass frame.
Measurements: 50 x 40 cm; 60 x 50 cm (frame).
Devotional image of scenographic presentation, which shows the Virgin with the Child on her lap, sitting on a throne of clouds, with cherub heads at his feet and angels. Both figures hold the same rosary, which shows a great complicity between both characters, which are shown to the viewer united. Mary is a monumental figure, well seated and sculptural, inherited from the classicist baroque, and occupies most of the pictorial surface, directly illuminated by a clear and uniform light, which models avoiding the excesses of tenebrism and creates a soft play of lights and half shadows. This golden light gives the flesh tones of both figures a pearly appearance, in keeping with the classical idealization they show. The figures stand out well silhouetted against a golden background of Gloria, subtly worked with shades of ochre and yellow.
The iconography of the Virgin of the Rosary is directly related to the figure of Saint Dominic. The tradition, which began in the 15th century, tells that the mother of God herself taught the saint to pray the rosary in 1208, telling him to propagate this devotion and use it as a powerful weapon against the enemies of the faith. Appearing in the chapel where the saint was praying, holding a rosary in his hand, he taught him to recite it, promising that many sinners would be converted and obtain abundant graces. St. Dominic left there full of zeal, with the rosary in his hand. He did indeed preach it, and with great success, bringing many Albingenses back to the Catholic faith.