Spanish school; second half of the 17th century.

Spanish school; second half of the XVII century.
"St. Elijah".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 104 x 79 cm; 116 x 90 cm (frame).
Devotional painting starring St. Elijah who is portrayed standing in the foreground, with his arm raised wielding a flaming sword, symbol of his role as defender of the true faith and executor of divine justice, while in the other hand holds a scroll, emblem of his prophetic mission- The scene is set in a landscape barely sketched, dominated by ocher tones on the ground and a sky of leaden clouds, whose atmospheric density intensifies the character of the scene-.
The choice of St. Elijah as the protagonist responds to his importance within the biblical tradition and Christian spirituality: an Old Testament figure associated with the defense of monotheism against idolatry, he was considered a model of firmness and asceticism, as well as a precursor of Christ and patron of religious orders such as the Carmelite. His iconography, less frequent than that of other prophets, acquires in this work an exalted and militant tone, typical of a century in which the Church sought to reaffirm its dogmas through images of strong visual impact.
From the technical point of view, the painting shows the distinctive features of the Spanish Baroque school: a dense and sure brushstroke, the expressive use of chiaroscuro to highlight the volumetric masses and a sober chromatism, based on the earthy range and the contrast of lights and shadows.