Spanish or Italian school; first half of the 18th century.

Spanish or Italian school; first half of the 18th century.
"The Virgin of the Rosary with Saint Barbara and Saint Teresa".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
It has frame of the twentieth century.
Measurements: 92 x 134 cm; 112 x 154 cm (frame).
Image of scenographic representation, which shows the Virgin with the Child in her lap, seated on a throne of clouds, while in an earthly area and flanking the sides you can see Santa Barbara on the left and Santa Teresa in the right area. Mary is a monumental figure, well seated and sculptural, typical of the classicist taste, 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 light and half shadows. This light gives the flesh tones of both figures a golden appearance, in accordance with the classical idealization they show. The colors, especially the red of the Virgin's tunic, which dominates the composition and is framed by the blue tone of the cloak, add expressiveness to the scene. The figures stand out well silhouetted against a golden background of Gloria, subtly worked with shades of ochre and yellow.
The representation of the Virgin of the Rosary was a theme that gained popularity in Baroque painting. Legend has it that the Virgin taught Saint Dominic 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. He did indeed preach it, and with great success, bringing many Albigensians back to the Catholic faith.