**Originally Listed At $2500**

South America, ca. 18th or 19th century CE. A portable mini altar, the wooden triptych framing six images comprised of finely painted raised pastiglia with figures in relief. At center is the Virgin and Child, with Mary reading prayers to the Baby Jesus, set amidst a tranquil perspectival landscape; to their left, an image of Saint Sebastian with an arrow piercing his left thigh; to the right, Saint Francis in his traditional brown habit posed in reverence to the Holy Mother and Child; in the pediments above are God the Father flanked by a pair of seraphim. A very rare piece of religious art, replete with a theatrical quality as well as a dramatic jewel tone color palate, these traits demonstrating a strong Baroque influence. Size: 11.25" W x 8.625" H (28.6 cm x 21.9 cm) when open

Pastiglia is an Italian word that literally means "pastework" and manifests as low relief decoration, usually modelled in gesso or white lead, applied in a manner to build up the surface which is then painted and/or gilded, and sometimes left plain. This technique originated in Italy during the Renaissance, and became favored by the English for creating gilded frames, articles of furniture, caskets, and panel paintings. During the Spanish Colonial period, such European techniques spread to the New World.

Provenance: Charles Craig, Jr., by descent to Craig Hendrix, to Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA.

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#121184

Central upper and lower compositions show longitudinal breaks with losses at break lines. All show surface wear with pigment losses. Wooden frame shows inactive insect losses on verso, some areas of separation, and surface losses as shown.