Spanish school; second half of the 16th century.
"The Visitation".
Oil on pine panel. Chipped.
It presents damages caused by xylophagous.
Measurements: 44 x 58,5 cm; 59 x 73 cm (frame).
Two female figures embrace each other in the foreground, leading this devotional scene. To the right of the composition, another woman stands in the doorway, while to the left, in this case closer to the main figures, another woman can be seen who is also observing the two figures in the centre of the composition. These features indicate that the artist is depicting the visit of the Virgin, already pregnant with Christ, to her older cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, in the city of Hebron, a theme taken from the Gospel of Luke (1: 39-56). It is strange, however, that neither Saint Joseph nor Elizabeth's husband, who are frequent figures in the depiction of this theme, are present. Apart from the presence of these figures, it should be noted that the painting follows the biblical text almost to the last detail: it is even possible that Elizabeth's kneeling posture was either to feel the movement of her son as she recognised Christ, or to allude to her greeting to Mary ("Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb").