Flemish or Italian school; 17th century.

Flemish or Italian school; XVII century.
"Madonna del Popolo".
Oil on copper.
It has a frame of the nineteenth century.
Measurements: 22.5 x 17 cm; 37 x 32 cm (frame).
The Madonna del Popolo, understood as one of the compositional models spread from the Roman Marian devotion and its numerous copies and reinterpretations, played a significant role in the European painting of the seventeenth century, especially in the Flemish and Italian areas, since its representation offered an archetype very adaptable to the needs of the Counter-Reformation, which demanded clear, devotional and doctrinally effective images.
In the Italian school of the 17th century, the model of the Madonna del Popolo provided a Marian image of classical balance and baroque spirituality, centered on grace, monumentality and the intercessory character of Mary. In the Flemish school, this same model was reinterpreted with a more detailed and emotional approach, enriched by the naturalism of the north. Overall, its relevance lies in having offered a solid and adaptable devotional archetype, capable of responding to the spiritual and aesthetic needs of both pictorial traditions.