Ancient painting The Birth of the Virgin Mary, copy after S. Vouet '600

Oil on canvas. This is a beautiful copy of the famous painting by Simon Vouet (1590-1649) created between 1618 and 1620, located in a chapel of the church of San Francesco a Ripa in Rome. Executed by Vouet during his stay in Rome, the work shows a significant Caravaggesque influence, both in its chromatic and lighting choices and in the poses of the figures. These characteristics are faithfully reflected in this copy. The palette is rich in colours (blue, orange, and of course red) that materialise in draperies painted with great mastery of the brush, but there is also an abundance of white fabrics, present everywhere to bring light and create a visual impact. The details are rich: the elaborate hairstyle of the figure seen from behind and her bare foot in the foreground (but not dirty, like those of Merisi); the white vase on the ground contrasts with the large copper basin; the lace of the shirt and the turban of the woman on the right, as well as her left hand (a typical Caravaggio pose) openly reaching out towards the viewer, give the scene a sense of depth. The painting was restored and re-canvas at the end of the 19th century and mounted on a frame from that period. It is presented in a frame from the late 19th century.