Spanish Colonial School Devotional Painting

(late 17th/early 18th century)

The Loving, Suffering Christ, with text contrasting the love of God with the work of hatred, unsigned, oil on canvas with wood panel, 18-1/2 x 11-3/4 in.; 19th century gilt wood and composition diaper pattern frame, 23 x 16-1/4 in.

Provenance: Estate of Ronald M. Lambe, Asheville, North Carolina

Note: Inscription: A Jesus el amor y odio lo arrojan en el Cedron el odio pudo acabarse mas nunca pudo el amor/El odio fue obra del hombre el amor fue obra de Dios....diera aconocer su autor/No los Rios de Yngratitudes ni los mares sel Dolor Sutocaran [?] el y ncendio de ese amante Corazon/que ymporia, que Caudaloso sea el y mpetu del Cedron sus Aguas no son' Capaces de apagar aquel Ardor/Portanto Alma Religiosa llega alivia a tu senor que es mui justa ...pagues amor, con amor.

Rough translation: To Jesus, love and hatred are thrown into the Cedron, hatred could end but love never could/Hatred was the work of man, love was the work of God ... let the author know/Not the rivers of ingratitude nor the seas of pain will Succeed the and fire of that loving heart./that and why, that mighty be the and impetus of the Cedron its waters are not capable of quenching that Burning/Therefore, Religious Soul comes, relieves your Lord who is very fair ... pay love, with love
Condition Report: original strainer with some pest damage and lacking central horizontal support, wood panel with pest damage recto, craquelure, crackle, flaking, surface dirt; frame with losses to composition