Spanish Colonial, Mexico, ca. 18th century CE. A fine oil on canvas painting depicting Saint Philip Neri, among the most revered religious leaders of 17th C. Rome whose reputation for having experienced a state of ecstasy while celebrating Mass informs this composition. Wearing a beautiful chasuble - the sleeveless outer vestment characteristically worn by a high priest when celebrating Mass - that is distinctly ornate, adorned by festoons of pink roses against a red and gold ground with extensive flourishes, San Felipe is kneeling in prayer and having a vision of the Crucifixion delineated in an orb of light upon a chalice surrounded by four seraphim, as a winged angel alights from the upper left, and is about to place a wreath of roses (symbolic of the Virgin Mary with whom Philip is also associated) on his head. The heart that St. Philip Neri holds is a reference to a heart condition said to have been brought about by his spiritual transport. This is also the source of his inscription, "Dilatasti cor meum," "When thou didst enlarge my heart" (Ps 118:32) Size: 24" L x 20.25" W (61 cm x 51.4 cm)

Beside the kneeling San Felipe is a table with rosary beads, a leather-bound Gospel, a Crucifix, and a momento mori skull. "S. FELIPE NERI" is delineated in rosy white on the lower right. In addition to the spiritual iconography of this piece, the artist's impassioned style is elevated by the use of tenebrism (tenebroso) displaying a dramatic use of light and shadow, clearly revealing a Baroque influence.

Philip Romolo Neri (Italian: Filippo Romolo Neri, 1515-1595) was an Italian priest best known as the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory, a secular clergy society. The son of a Florentine lawyer, Philip Neri studied theology in Rome, was ordained, and later founded a lay brotherhood devoted to charity work known as the Oratorians. Beloved for coming to the aid of the poor and ill, years later he was given the title of "Apostle of Rome". San Felipe Neri would become one of the most influential figures of the Counter-Reformation.

Philip Neri has been the subject of several famous artworks, including a painting by Guercino in 1656 and Tiepolo's painting depicting St. Philip Neri having a vision of the Virgin and Child with angels, a popular theme true to the spirit of the Counter Reformation. In Mexico, San Felipe had a major following during the Spanish Colonial period. The Temple of San Felipe Neri, also known as "La Profesa", is a Roman Catholic church that was consecrated in 1610. The brothers of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri furnished the church with many paintings and artworks. Eventually some of the buildings became an art gallery housing the church's collection. One room named for Cardinal Newman housed paintings associated with the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri - including a series depicting the life of Saint Philip Neri by Antonio de Torres. (For more information, see Ruiz Gomar, Jose Rogelio, "The Paintings in La Profesa", Artes de México No. 172, Ciudad de México No. IX Tres Iglesias del Siglo XVIII (1973), pp. 89–91.) In addition, the Church of San Felipe Neri, erected in the 1730's and completed in 1803, features a central statue of Felippo Neri on the second register.

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection

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#138164

Canvas has been relined. New stretchers. There is a small puncture below the table - the verso of which is now covered since the canvas has been relined. There are a few small scratches (including below the flower wreath, to the left of the angel, on the white vestments covering his lower leg, to the upper right corner, among others) but they are relatively minor. Nice craquelure.