Bidspirit auction | Penitent Saint with Angels. New

Penitent Saint with Angels. New Spanish Baroque School. 18th Century. - Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 123 x 93 cm and 140 x 108 cm. The work presents a profoundly mystical scene, where a female figure—probably Saint Rose of Lima or Mary Magdalene—is shown in a contemplative pose, her hand on her chest and her gaze raised towards heaven, while a group of cherubs descends to crown her with a garland of flowers. In the foreground, beside her, are arranged traditional symbols of repentance: a crucifix, an open book, white lilies, and a skull, symbols of penance and the fleeting nature of life. The dark and dense atmosphere is dramatically illuminated around the saint's face, enhancing the spiritual dimension of the scene. The painting technique is notable for its refined modeling of the face, the velvety treatment of the shadows, and the ascending composition that draws the viewer's gaze towards the celestial vision. This type of representation reflects the Baroque sensibility of 18th-century New Spain, centered on devotion, symbolism, and the exaltation of the sacred through expressive gestures and eloquent iconography. Dimensions: 123 x 93 cm and 140 x 108 cm.