Unknown Artist 18th / 19th century - The Virgin and Child with a Rose (Madonna del Sangue)

Unknown Artist 18th / 19th century

The Virgin and Child with a Rose (Madonna del Sangue)

Oil on canvas, mounted on panel. 71 x 57 cm.

This work is based on the famous fresco of the "Madonna del Sangue" in the North Italian town of Re (Piemont). According to legend, the forehead of the Virgin, painted in fresco on the outer wall of one chapel, began to bleed after being struck by a stone in 1494. Following this miracle, the chapel and the fresco have become a heavily frequented site of pilgrimage and remain so to this day.
The Latin inscription, which is also found on the original image in Re, reads "In Gremio Matris Sedet Sapientia Patris" (the wisdom of the father sits in the lap of the mother). However, the depiction of the mother and child differs slightly from the original work: Whilst the Italian fresco depicts the Madonna lactans type, this piece shows Christ with his right arm raised in blessing.