A solemn devotional oil painting depicting an elderly male saint, portrayed in a contemplative pose with his hand on his chest and his gaze lifted toward the heavens. He wears a monastic cowl, and a wooden crozier is partially visible in the background, suggesting a figure such as St. Anthony the Great, St. Benedict, or another hermitic or monastic saint venerated in the Catholic tradition.
Executed in oil on canvas, the work shows stylistic features characteristic of Southern European religious painting of the late 18th century: a warm chiaroscuro palette, restrained background, and academic modeling of the hands and face. The saint’s expression is imbued with pathos and spiritual fervor, consistent with post-baroque devotional art.
In the upper left corner, inscribed in red within a sunburst, appears the Latin word “CHARITAS” – meaning “divine charity” or “Christian love” – a traditional theological virtue and a common emblematic inscription in ecclesiastical settings such as monasteries or charitable hospitals. This reinforces the sacred and contemplative nature of the work.
The original canvas has been professionally relined on an old secondary support, likely during the 19th or early 20th century. Minor retouching and varnish reintegration are visible upon close inspection, with stable craquelure throughout and no active damage. The work is housed in a period-style gilded and ebonized wooden frame with decorative corner motifs.
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• Inscription: “Charitas” (Latin, upper left corner)
Details:
• Origin: Southern Europe (Italy or Spain)
• Date: c. 1780–1800
• Technique: Oil on canvas (relined)
• Provenance: Private collection, Spain
• Dimensions: Canvas size: 43 × 56 cm (16.9 × 22 in); • Framed size: 60 × 72 cm (23.6 × 28.3 in)
• Condition: Good. Minor old restorations; relined; stable surface with aged varnish.
(The photographs form an integral part of the description.)
A well-placed antique does more than decorate a room - it gives it authorship. Against a contemporary interior, older objects introduce texture, balance and a sense of permanence that cannot be replicated by newly made pieces alone.
This is the principle behind the LÜRON selection. We look for works that carry historical character with ease, and that feel as convincing in a Paris apartment as they do in a more modern architectural setting.
