Imperiale Grammatica

Italian master of the seventeenth century. Attributed to IMPERIALE GRAMMATICA (1599-1634).
"Allegory of Divine Grace".
Oil on copper.
Attached import document from the Ministry of Culture, dated 2017.
Measurements: 22 x 16.5 cm; 30.5 x 24.5 cm(frame).

This Allegory of Divine Grace places us at the core of the Roman Baroque, and is a refined example of Imperiale Grammatica's ability to translate complex theological concepts into images of profound visual clarity. This work has a close affinity with Imperiale Grammatica's "Pomona, Ceres and Flora" (now in the Fondazione Federico Zeri), with which it shares a clear stylistic identity. This link is manifested both in the characteristic morphology of the faces and in a treatment of chiaroscuro that shows the same rigor in the modeling of light and shadow.

The dark background enhances the luminous presence of the figure and concentrates the attention on the ecstatic face, elevated towards the Holy Spirit. The band with the inscription "Gratia Divina" eliminates any iconographic ambiguity, while the attributes complete the allegorical discourse: the olive branch, symbol of reconciliation and spiritual peace, and the chalice, a direct reference to faith and the Eucharist as a vehicle of grace.

The precise brushstroke denotes flesh tones with a polished, almost enamel finish. The lighting, of contained tenebrism, does not seek dramatism, but an atmosphere of recollection. In contrast to the radical pathos of Caravaggio - whom he protected in his early years in Rome - Grammatica opts for a serene spirituality.

Designed for a private devotional context, this small painting condenses the qualities that made Grammatica an artist much appreciated by the great Roman collectors and cardinals.