Italian school; second half of the 17th century.

Italian school; second half of the XVII century.
"Saint Charles Borromeo".
Silver plated copper, bronze and wooden base.
Measurements: 29 x 21 x 10 cm.
This sculpture represents Saint Charles Borromeo, one of the most influential figures of the post-Tridentine spirituality and model of reformer bishop after the Council of Trent. The work, belonging to the Italian school of the second half of the 17th century, effectively translates the devotional ideals of the Baroque: iconographic clarity, restrained intensity and a sober naturalism at the service of piety.
The bust shows the saint with a buttoned cassock and collar, dressed with the simplicity typical of his iconography. The face, with elongated features and introspective expression, is worked with a precise modeling that emphasizes the ascetic thinness and spiritual concentration. The silvery surface of the copper on the head contrasts with the golden warmth of the bronze on the robes, a resource that enriches the visual effect and hierarchizes the facial expression, the true devotional focus of the piece. The compositional sobriety, together with the frontality of the approach, responds to a sculptural type conceived both for private contemplation and for small oratories.
The Italian school of the 17th century, especially in Lombard and Roman environments, developed a notable production of devotional busts in metal, destined for collectors and domestic religious spaces.