Spanish or Flemish school; XVII century. "Mystical... Lot 35

Spanish or Flemish school; XVII century. "Mystical nuptials of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Dominic of Guzman". Oil on copper. Size: 23 x 19,5 cm; 46 x 41,5 cm (frame). Work of religious character that presents the Virgin with the Child inscribed in a border of flowers. This one, located in the center of the composition, directs her gaze downwards, where there are two characters that extend their hand to pick up the rosary that the Virgin gives them. By their iconographic characteristics both saints can be identified as Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Dominic of Guzman. Born in Siena around 1347, St. Catherine of Siena took a vow of virginity at the age of seven. As her mother wanted to marry her off, she shaved her head. Received into the Third Order of St. Dominic at the age of sixteen, she led an ascetic life in the convent that ruined her fragile health. She professed a particular devotion to St. Agnes of Montepulciano. According to legend, when Catherine visited the tomb of St. Agnes, and was bending over the body of the saint to kiss her foot, the saint raised it to the height of her lips. She was glorified for having contributed to bring Pope Gregory XI to Rome from Avignon. On the occasion of the Western Schism, she took the side of Urban VI. She died in Rome in 1380 and was canonized in 1461. Saint Dominic of Guzman, born in Castile in 1170, was the founder of the Order of Preachers, better known as Dominicans. During his childhood he received a careful moral and cultural formation, finally awakening his vocation towards the ecclesiastical state. After studying humanities, theology and philosophy in Palencia, where he was also a professor, he was ordained a priest, and was finally named ambassador extraordinary by King Alfonso VIII of Castile. After obtaining in 1216 the authorization to found his order, he devoted his last years to its organization and to several missionary journeys to France and Italy. Legend, however, has added much to his biography. Numerous miracles were also attributed to the saint during his preaching, especially the resurrection of a young man who died from a fall from a horse and the rescue of some pilgrims who were going to drown while trying to cross the Garonne to Santiago de Compostela. It also has an extensive iconography related to all these episodes, including symbols such as the dog with the torch, the white lilac, the star, the cross, the standard and the holy rosary, the book and the church and the three mitres. One of the most outstanding episodes of his legend is the apparition to the saint of the Virgin of the Rosary. The tradition, which began in the 15th century, tells that the mother of God herself taught Saint Dominic to pray the rosary in 1208, telling him to propagate this devotion and to use it as a powerful weapon against the enemies of the faith. Appearing in the chapel where the saint was praying, holding a rosary in his hand, he taught him to recite it, promising that many sinners would be converted and obtain abundant graces. St. Dominic left there full of zeal, with the rosary in his hand. He did indeed preach it, and with great success, bringing many Albingenses back to the Catholic faith.