Italian school, possibly from Genoa, second half of the 17th century.

Italian school, possibly Genoa, second half of the 17th century.
"Christ and the adulterous woman".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Restored.
Measurements: 97 x 124 cm.

The Genoese school of the XVII century in painting was characterized by a remarkable richness and eclecticism, fruit of the role of Genoa as an important commercial center open to international influences; it combined the dramatic naturalism inherited from the caravaggismo with a tendency towards the colorism and the decorative elegance of Flemish and Venetian root, giving place to dynamic compositions, of intense hallmarks of light and color, and with great attention to the textures and the luxury (silks, jewels, architectures); He excelled in both religious painting and aristocratic portraiture, reflecting the power of Genoese families, and had relevant artists such as Bernardo Strozzi, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione or Domenico Fiasella, who developed a sophisticated, theatrical and often emotionally expressive style.

The canvas is based on a passage from the Bible Jesus with the adulterous woman, it says: "Jesus was preaching in the temple in Jerusalem when they entered with a sinful woman who was going to kill, at that moment Jesus stopped them and writing on the ground the names of those gathered said the phrase: he who is without sin let him cast the first stone. in this way he got everyone to leave by recognizing each one of their sins, leaving Jesus and the woman alone and He said: go and sin no more. In this work we see how the artist follows the Caravaggesque precepts, with monumental figures, represented only with bust and as a frieze. Despite the presence of the woman, she goes unnoticed since all the gazes of the characters in the work are directed towards the figure of Christ, whom the apostles seem to reprimand.