The Assumption of the Virgin
Oil painting on canvas in an elaborate giltwood frame • Attributed to the Flemish or French Baroque School, possibly a workshop production or follower in the manner of Peter Paul Rubens or Charles Le Brun.
Style & Movement
Baroque
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, employing traditional Baroque techniques including chiaroscuro, subtle glazing, and dynamic brushwork to convey movement and divine light.
Creation Period
Mid-to-late 17th century
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 200 x 150 cm, vertical portrait format
Subject Description
The composition is divided into two distinct realms: the earthly zone featuring the apostles gathered around an empty tomb in expressions of awe and grief, and the celestial zone where the Virgin Mary is ascending into heaven amidst swirling clouds, cherubim, and divine golden light emanating from God the Father.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The canvas appears stable with a rich varnish layer, though there is minor evidence of age-related craquelure and potential historical varnish discoloration.
Estimated Market Value
$45,000 - $75,000
Auction Estimate
$30,000 - $50,000
Provenance History
Likely commissioned for a private European chapel or ecclesiastical institution, descending through private European collections with architectural elements integrated into a period wood-paneled interior.
Art Historical Significance
Exemplifies the Counter-Reformation aesthetic designed to evoke deep emotional and spiritual engagement through dramatic narrative, theatrical lighting, and monumental scale.
Notable Features
Housed within an exceptionally grand, heavily carved and gilded Baroque revival or period frame featuring acanthus leaf motifs, perfectly integrated into a dark wood-paneled altar setting with matching gilt corbels and putti figures.
Condition Issues
Minor surface dust, potential historic minor retouching along the margins, and slight yellowing of the aged varnish layer typical of 17th-century oils.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning by a professional conservator, monitoring of environmental humidity and temperature within the chapel setting, and low-UV directional lighting.