Title: Mater Dolorosa
Artist: After Guido Reni (Bologna, 1575–1642)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 62 x 50 cm
Condition Report: Slight darkening of pigments due to time passage; small areas of flaking; restoration marks on verso; otherwise in good condition.

Description:
A deeply moving interpretation of Guido Reni’s Mater Dolorosa, this Baroque composition captures the Virgin Mary in an expression of sorrow and devotion. Her hands are crossed over her chest, and her gaze is lifted toward the heavens, embodying the moment of Jesus' Passion as described in the Gospel of John (19:25). The luminous rendering of her face, set against a monochrome background, enhances the emotional depth of the piece.

Executed in the characteristic style of Reni’s workshop, the painting exhibits his masterful use of chiaroscuro, giving the figure a sculptural, almost relief-like presence. The Virgin’s drapery, painted in an intense lapis lazuli blue, contrasts dramatically with the dark background, heightening the theatricality of the composition. The stylistic refinement and emotive expressiveness suggest the hand of one of Reni’s closest followers, possibly Giovanni Andrea Sirani, Elisabetta Sirani, or Giovanni Francesco Gessi.

The enduring popularity of Mater Dolorosa reflects the devotional significance of the subject, evoking both grace and suffering in a manner that resonated deeply with Baroque audiences.

About Guido Reni:
Guido Reni (1575–1642) was a leading figure of the Italian Baroque, renowned for his idealized mythological and religious compositions. Trained under the Flemish painter Denis Calvaert and later influenced by the Carracci family, Reni developed a style that blended classical harmony with Baroque expressiveness. His masterful fresco Aurora (1613–14) remains one of the most celebrated ceiling paintings of the period. Revered for his serene and graceful figures, Reni’s works had a profound influence on European art, cementing his legacy as one of the most revered painters of his time.