Scuola veneta (XVIII) - San Marco

Lively portrait of San Marco d'Aviano: oil on canvas, attributable to a Venetian master. Late 17th, early 18th century.

San Marco was born in Aviano in 1631. A man of profound faith, he entered the Capuchin Order, dedicating himself to preaching as well as to the reform of the Church.
Generous and compassionate, he dedicates a lot of energy to the poor and the sick.
In 1683, Europe is threatened by the Turkish invasion. Saint Mark of Aviano, with his courage and his unshakable faith, urges the Austrian emperor Leopold the First to fight against the enemies of Christianity. The Christian troops, inspired by the laborious Benedictine preaching, prevail over the Turks. The victory in Vienna is also attributed to the intercession of Marco.

In the proposed composition, the jovial and lively expression of the figure accentuates the energetic and benevolent personality of the Saint. The virile raised right hand creates a fascinating diagonal which, joining the other hand holding the ferula, directs attention to the delicate Christ on the Cross. The burnished robe of the Saint and the dark background surround the flushed complexion of the Saint whose gaze intercepts that of the observer. The chiaroscuro is dosed with great brush skill: it generates warm shadows on the Crucifix, in front of the Saint's heart, on the hands and face of the protagonist. The masterful rendering of the face, equally realistic and naturalistic, allows a psychological perception of the portrait's personality. The chromatic temperature, intimate and enveloping, seems to be generated by the light of a candle.

The canvas, with an old relining, shows small damage to the pictorial surface, which occurred at the same time as a more recent cleaning.

It comes from an important private Venetian collection.

To accompany the work, if requested at the same time as payment, a wooden frame from a later period is provided free of charge.

Dimensions: 74cm x 99cm.