Assumption of the Virgin (or Mary Magdalene in Ecstasy)
Painting on canvas • Circle of or Manner of Guido Reni / Francesco Albani (Bolognese School)
Style & Movement
Baroque (Bolognese Classicism)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing sfumato for skin tones and tenebrist lighting (chiaroscuro) inspired by the Caravaggesque tradition
Creation Period
Late 17th Century to Early 18th Century
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 60 x 45 cm; Vertical portrait orientation
Subject Description
A female saint or the Virgin Mary is depicted in a moment of spiritual rapture, eyes cast upward toward a divine light source. She is draped in a white tunic with a blue mantle, classical colors associated with the Virgin. A small putto or cherub is visible in the lower left, indicating a celestial or transitional scene between earth and heaven.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Fair; stable but shows signs of aging consistent with its period
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $8,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $6,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely originated from a private European collection or religious institution in Italy; the 19th-century style 'Salvator Rosa' frame with teal pigments suggests later residential display.
Art Historical Significance
An example of the enduring influence of the Roman-Bolognese Baroque style, which prioritized emotional clarity and idealized beauty following the Counter-Reformation. It reflects the widespread dissemination of Guido Reni's 'divine' manner of painting across Europe.
Notable Features
The use of a distinctive teal and gold gilded frame, which is unusual for the period and may indicate a specific 19th-century regional provenance or decorative taste.
Condition Issues
Visible craquelure across the paint surface, particularly in the darker passages. Some yellowing of the varnish. Minor losses and abrasions along the edges of the frame. Possible old restoration/inpainting visible under UV light in the skin tones.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning and varnish removal/replacement to reveal the original vibrancy of the blues and whites. Maintain in a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting.