Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Unknown
Saint Lawrence Looking at the Treasures

Last Quarter of 17th Century

$22,000
£16,432.95
€19,051.38
CA$30,546.45
A$34,238.64
CHF 17,827.05
MX$418,068.42
NOK 226,338.82
SEK 214,548.84
DKK 142,143.94
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

"Saint Lawrence Looking at the Treasures" is a captivating painting attributed to the Bolognese School, a prominent art movement from Bologna, Italy, flourishing primarily in the 16th and 17th centuries. This artistic school is renowned for its sophisticated blending of classical and baroque elements, producing works characterized by dramatic composition, rich coloration, and a spectacular attention to detail. The painting depicts Saint Lawrence, a figure of historical and religious significance, immersed in the contemplation over an array of treasures gathered before him. The Roman Emperor Valerian had given an edict commanding that all bishops, priests, and deacons be put to death, and all church money and possessions be confiscated. Saint Lawrence's response was to quickly sell all the treasures and gave the monies and properties of the church to the widows and the poor. When the Emperor summoned Lawrence to his palace and demanded the treasure, Lawrence entered the palace, stopped, and with great aplomb, gestured back to the door where, streaming in behind him, poured crowds of poor, crippled, blind, and suffering people. “These are the true treasures of the Church,” he boldly proclaimed. Saint Lawrence was executed that very day. The composition masterfully conveys a sense of reverence and introspection, capturing the essence of Lawrence's experience as he gazes upon the accumulated wealth and artifacts. The artist’s skillful use of light and shadow enhances the painting's dramatic effect, drawing the viewer's eye to Lawrence’s expression, the intricate details of the treasures, and his delicate gold halo. In "Saint Lawrence Looking at the Treasures," the artist employs the Bolognese School's signature techniques, evident in the balance of realism and idealism. The textures and materials of the treasures and other figures are rendered with remarkable precision, showcasing the painter's expertise in creating lifelike representations. The thoughtful arrangement of figures and the careful attention to their individual characteristics reflect the intellectual rigor and artistic discipline that are hallmarks of the Bolognese tradition. This painting not only highlights the artist's technical prowess but also serves as a narrative piece, inviting viewers to ponder the deeper meanings and historical context behind Lawrence's interaction with the treasures. Through its exquisite execution and evocative subject matter, "Lawrence Looking at the Treasures" stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Bolognese School and its contribution to the rich tapestry of art history.
  • Creation Year:
    Last Quarter of 17th Century
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.25 in (38.74 cm)Width: 10.5 in (26.67 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
    Late 17th Century
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Fredericksburg, VA
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2574214835022

More From This Seller

View All
Madonna with Holy Child and St. John
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Madonna with Holy Child and St. John is a masterful depiction of a tender religious scene, capturing the sacred relationship between the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, and St. John t...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings

Materials

Wood, Oil

Rebecca at the Well
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
Nicola Maria Rossi masterfully captures the biblical tale of Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well, a story from the Book of Genesis. In this scene, Abraham’s servant, Eliezer, arrives at ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Enjoying Old Times
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
"Enjoying Old Times" by Charles Baker captures a poignant and joyful moment in the life of an older man, immersed in the beauty of nature. The painting features the man in the midst of a hike, his weathered walking stick in one hand, and a bottle of champagne in the other. His gaze is fixed on the bottle, a focused and content expression playing on his lips, suggesting a celebration of memories or perhaps a spontaneous toast to the present moment. Baker’s use of warm, earthy tones highlights the natural surroundings, with the man standing against a backdrop of greenery, a rocky path, and a clear, open sky. The composition is rich in detail, from the rugged texture of the man’s clothes...
Category

Mid-19th Century Hudson River School Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Christ Crucified
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
"Christ Crucified" is a striking oil on copper painting by an anonymous German School artist. This bold composition presents a powerful portrayal of the crucifixion, a central theme ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Figurative Paintings

Materials

Copper

Impressionist Idyllic Madonna
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
B. Gianni's impressionist Madonna is an exquisite painting that radiates with a divine presence and ethereal beauty. This remarkable artwork depicts the Madonna seated gracefully on ...
Category

Late 19th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Oil on Canvas Portrait of Mother and Child
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
This painting is unsigned but evidence shows that it is from a European school. It shows a mother with a child on her lap as well as a forest background. Likely wealthier patrons due...
Category

Mid-19th Century English School Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Saint holding a square possibly St Thomas Apostol
Located in London, GB
This finely executed 19th-century devotional painting, rendered in oil on copper, depicts Saint Thomas the Apostle, traditionally recognized as the patron saint of architects and bui...
Category

Early 19th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Copper

Antique Italian painter - 18th century figure painting - Saint John Nepomuk
Located in Varmo, IT
Italian painter (18th century) - Saint John Nepomuk 65 x 50 cm without frame, 78 x 64 cm with frame. Antique oil painting on canvas, in a gilded wooden frame (not signed). Conditi...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sacra Conversazione, Maria, Christ, Old Master, Religious, Baroque Painting, art
Located in Greven, DE
Attributed to Peter Candid / Pieter de Witte (Bruges c. 1540 - 1628 Munich) Sacra Conversazione Oil on wood, 29 x 37 cm The painter, sculptor and architect Peter Candid, known in Italy as Pietro Candido, was born in Bruges between 1540 and 1548. In the 1560s he stayed in Florence, where he worked in the workshop of Giorgio Vasari, with whom he collaborated on a number of commissions for the House of Medici. After a brief stay in Volterra, he went to Munich in 1586. For the next 42 years, until his death, he remained court painter to Duke William V...
Category

17th Century Renaissance Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Venetian Baroque religious figurative painting from the 17th century
Located in Florence, IT
This painting (oil on paper applied to wood panel, 18 x 12, 5 cm) is a valuable example of the production of small-format works, thus aimed at a private audience, which was very comm...
Category

Mid-17th Century Baroque Figurative Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil, Wood Panel

Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene.
Located in Berlin, DE
Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene. Canvas relined. With a beautiful wooden frame. Dimensions without frame.
Category

18th Century Old Masters Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Painting The Preaching of St. John the Baptist, 17th-18th century
Located in Milan, IT
Oil on Canvas. North Italian school of the 17th-18th centuries. The large scene is filled with figures in ancient Eastern garb, set in a northern, richly vegetated landscape with mou...
Category

Late 17th Century Other Art Style Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil