Old painting of the Virgin Mary with saints, oil on canvas from the 1600s.

Oil on canvas. Emilian school, 17th century. The scene can be divided horizontally into two parts: in the upper part, Mary and Jesus appear in glory on the clouds, flanked by an angel on the right and Saint Francis of Paola on the left, identified by the staff bearing a medallion with the inscription "Charitas." Mary converses with the saint, while Jesus looks down, where other figures are gathered in adoration. In the lower part, several other saints appear, recognizable by their specific attributes. On the right is Saint Gertrude of Helfta, a Cistercian nun holding her crozier in one hand and pointing with the other to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on her chest. On the other side is a group of five male figures, including, from left to right: Saint Blaise of Sebaste, bishop and Armenian physician, holding an iron comb, the instrument of his martyrdom; Saint Anthony of Padua, in Franciscan habit and holding a lily; Saint Mark, busy writing the words of the Gospel in a book, as suggested by an angel behind him, with a lion crouched at his feet; Saint Louis of Gonzaga, kneeling in adoration, with an angel offering him the lily of purity, and a crown thrown at his feet, symbolizing his rejection of his noble title to join the Society of Jesus. Some cherubs move around these figures. On the left, a vertical column connects the two sections, while a gentle landscape is discernible in the background. The painting features some figures with more detailed and well-defined faces, while others are more nuanced. There is a careful study of evocative light and color effects, harmoniously contrasted and balanced, giving different expressiveness and movement to the figures, which meet and partially overlap despite their very specific identities. The painting comes from an important historical collection in Bologna. It has been restored and re-canvas-mounted in the past. It is presented in a frame from the late 19th century.