Spanish school; 16th century. "San Blas". Oil on panel. Cradled.

About Auction

Live

Old Masters

By Setdart Auction House

Jun 30, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-06-30 08:30:00 2021-06-30 08:30:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Old Masters https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/old-masters-7134
Setdart Auction House sofia@setdart.com

View Full Catalog (93)

• Lot Description
  Spanish school; 16th century. "San Blas". Oil on panel. Cradled. Presents repaints and restorations. Neo-Gothic setting from the mid-20th century. Measures: 86 x 47 cm; 100 x 62 cm (frame). St. Blaise was a physician and bishop of Sebaste, Armenia, in the 4th century. Known for his miraculous healing gifts, he retired to a cave on Mount Argeus to live a hermit's life. Arrested by Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, he refused to renounce his faith and was finally thrown into a lake. Nevertheless, Blaise, standing on the surface of the water, invited his persecutors to walk on the waters and thus demonstrate the power of their gods. They all drowned, and the saint returned to land by order of an angel, being then tortured and finally beheaded. Despite his Eastern origin, St. Blaise gained notable popularity in the West due to his reputation as a thaumaturge saint and healer of diseases. His main attributes are a pig, crisscrossed candles, a horn and a carding rake, in addition to the clothing of a bishop. In this particular piece we see the saint dressed in his bishop's vestments, holding in one of his hands a large staff topped with a zoomorphic shape, with open jaws. Due to the legend that accompanies Saint Blaise, it is interesting to note that the artist has used the clothing to create a silhouette reminiscent of the abstract form of the fish, alluding to the episode of the lake. Regarding the aesthetics of the work, there are still present elements reminiscent of the pictorial tradition of the Gothic period, the hieratic attitude, the flat and neutral background with a striking color, which tends to place the portrayed immersed in an abstraction, or the idealization of the face. However, the Saint brings forward the foot, thus introducing space in the composition, tending to a more fluid representation and approaching precepts rescued from classicism, which later developed in the painting of the sixteenth century.
• Shipping Info

  • In-house shipping available. Please inquire at admin@setdart.com.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 22.00 %