17th CENTURY VENETIAN MADONNA and CHILD

I wanted to share this beautiful Italian Madonna & Child with all of you. Just because they are so exceptional and beautiful. Bought on our recent trip to Italy's premier antique show, this is from the exquisite collection of Federico Andrisani, an expert in Italian religious antiques. For twenty minutes Mr. Andrisani and I spoke of our mutual love for this Madonna, he in Italian, me in English and with my hands and expressions. After our Italian speaking guide came to finalize the sale, Mr. Andrisani was kind enough to gift me a beautiful book that he wrote about the other pieces in his collection. {This beauty wasn't in it, as he had just recently discovered this piece.} But each and every one of his santos, Madonna's and paintings were museum worthy. I fell in love wth this one, and no other ones compared, but I could have been very happy to take home a few more....but that would have meant selling our house. {Mr. FrenchGardenHouse frowns on that!} This Italian Madonna & Child figure dates to the mid to end of the 1600's. Masterfully hand carved of wood in Venice, Italy, then gilded, hand painted and lacquered. Most likely made for a private chapel in a Venetian "Casa" - a grand palace in Venice, the faces of these two are so incredibly sweet! That this is in such very good condition is extremely rare to find, someone really loved this piece and took amazing care of it. I am honored to have this at FrenchGardenHouse until a collector buys it to grace their home. Aside from the fact that they are both holding the same heart, I fell in love with their beautiful faces. This is what I look for in a religious antique. Fine carving, and beautiful hand painting.

17th Century Italian Madonna & Christ Child

The carving is just so beautiful and elegant, there is a certain sweetness and spirit about this Madonna that will draw you near with an instant connection. You can tell that the artist poured his heart and soul into this Madonna and child. The conservation is very good for a piece of this age. Both the virgin and the baby Jesus have the most expressive features. I love the back as much as the front. The Virgin Mother's hair, the gold bow that keeps her gown tied on one shoulder, so precious. The creme-de-la-creme of religious antiques, it's the best piece I've ever had. It's also the most expensive, but then she is superb. And over 300 years in age. This is one time when an antique I have "discovered" on a buying trip literally called to my heart from an aisle away. Aside from the beauty and mastery of the artist who created this so long ago, there is the heart connection with the Virgin Mother and Christ. And you can tell that the artist poured all his devotion and faith into his art. If you missed the post about our FrenchGardenHouse 4-day buying trip to Italy, you can read it here > Thank you for letting me share one of the most favorite antiques I've ever had the honor of offering at FrenchGardenHouse. You can SHOP OUR RELIGIOUS ANTIQUES HERE >