Italian school; XVIII century.

Italian school; XVIII century.
"Virgin of the Rosary with St. Dominic of Guzman".
Oil on canvas glued to board.
It has a frame of the nineteenth century.
Measurements: 39 x 29 cm; 56 x 47 cm (frame).
In a break of glory completely golden, the author divides with a diagonal a celestial space and an earthly one. In the golden sky, on a cloud is the figure of the Virgin, who offers a rosary to Saint Dominic. The little Jesus, next to his mother's knees, holds part of the rosary.
It was a theme that gained popularity in painting. Legend has it that the Virgin taught St. Dominic to pray the rosary in 1208, telling him to spread 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. In the scene, located in the lower left corner, a dog carrying a torch in its jaws is also depicted. This iconography alludes to the dream of St. Dominic's mother, before he was born. After dreaming of a dog carrying a torch coming out of her womb, the mother made a pilgrimage to the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos to find out the meaning of her dream. There it was revealed to her that a child would be born, whom she named Domingo, in honor of the monastery.