Wonderful work of art attributed to the splendid art of Monsiau Nicolas-André (1754-1837) in the 18th century.
The work is a round framed painting made of gilded wood, with an angel above the frame cin center. The frame is all made with very elegant, curvy squiggles.
The painting depicts ‘The Preaching of St. Peter’: the reference narrative is the one found in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:14-42) in which St. Peter sets out to preach to the crowds after Pentecost, exhorting the people to baptism. In this scene Peter is depicted standing alone, whereas in the Acts text he was in the company of the other apostles: this choice strongly emphasizes his primacy and personification with the whole Church.
In the foreground we see a woman intent in the act of prayer, kneeling submissively to God’s will with her hands crossed she does not take her eyes off St. Peter, a concrete vision of the deification of religion. The woman wears a white neckline on her head, going to emphasize even more the sacredness of the scene and the Church, going to cover a seductive part typical of women, such as her hair.
St. Peter is depicted in the background in the act of preaching precisely, with his hands raised to heaven, as if he is asking God to take possession of his person and speak through his voice. He was preaching the importance of Christian baptism, a true initiation into the greatness of God. He has an open book on the red and white altar, dressed in a white tunic and a black tunic cover. In the background are all the adherents to the Christian Church, all kneeling to pray and listen to the sermon coming from the figure of St. Peter. This scene captures the immensity and greatness of and in the faith.
The painting is a supreme work of art, and as such deserves to be displayed in the most grandiose way possible.
Dimensions:
Diameter: 42,5 cm (16.73 in.)
Depth: 7 cm (2.75 in.)
Conditions:
The painting is in good and original vintage condition, slight scratches and light wear consistent with its time and use. Being a VINTAGE item it is possible that it will bear some scratches or defects.
