776 - St Elisabeth and the miracle of the roses, arched devotional painting, probably 19th c.

St Elisabeth and the miracle of the roses, arched devotional painting, probably 19th c. Oil on canvas, laid down on panel, unsigned, probably 19th century, inscribed 'St. Elisabeth.' below on a light lettering panel. Devotional painting in an arched frame: the standing figure of Saint Elisabeth in full length with a gold crown over a white veil, a red bodice with gold braid, a blue-grey garment with rich folds and a dark blue ermine-lined mantle; with her left hand she gathers a bunch of pink roses wrapped in the mantle, a single rose lies before her on the tiled floor. Behind her a green curtain on a rod, above it a landscape with bare trees, bluish mountains and an evening sky. Condition commensurate with age, losses to the paint layer, retouching, scratches, canvas undulating, with paint loss especially at the lower edge, craquelure. Image 52 x 24.5 cm (h x w), in a moulded dark brown wooden frame with an arched opening, frame with knocks, frame width 4 cm. The roses in the mantle show the miracle of the roses of Saint Elisabeth of Thuringia, the most widespread pictorial motif of the saint. Popular devotional painting in the Nazarene manner; the narrow arched format suggests that the picture came from a larger decorative scheme.