Crucifix with the Blessed Virgin and Saints Francis and Agatha

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Crucifix with the Virgin and Saints Francis and Agatha is a painting by the Italian painter and engraver Bernardino Mei. It was likely created in the sixth decade of the 17th century. 

This oil on canvas, was part of an ensemble probably realized for the Orator of the Holy Cross in Asciano, and then moved at the beginning of the XVIIIth century to the one of the Holy Nail. The artwork shows us an artist intent on offering a passionate and intensely expressive rendering of figures without bowing to conventionalities, such as the languid Saint Agatha embracing the cross in an almost voluptuos way, wrapped in her elegant courtesan's robe. Note, in the background, the bit of city and the horseman rendered by Mei with the great style of an illustrator, recalling examples by Callot.

It was probably part of a set commissioned for the Orator of the Holy Cross in Asciano. 

The painting was later moved at the beginning of the 18th century. 

Mei worked in a Baroque style in Siena and Rome, and was especially supported by the Chigi family. 

About the author: Bernardino Mei was an Italian painter and engraver who worked in a Baroque style.

He worked in Siena and Rome, and was especially supported by the Chigi family.

Date Created: Sixth decade of the XVIIth century

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This image is a public domain image, which means either that copyright has expired in the image or the copyright holder has waived their copyright. Franciscan Gallery charges for the access to high resolution copy of the image. Manually restoration was necessary in order to improve quality, without covering the original image.