The Virgin of Begoña
Northern Spain, 18th C.
Glass panel painted on reverse in eglomisé technique with etched gold and silver leaf and opaque and transparent pigments. Inscribed below "ASUMPTA ESTINCOBLUM" and "Retrato Milagorosa Imagende N.S. de BEGOANA sita en la Ante Iglesia. desututulo junto a N. Villa de Billbao." Minor localised retouches, especially to the robe. Painted softwood frame, H 35.6, W 27.4 cm.
The sculpture of the Virgin and Child reproduced in this reverse glass painting is housed in the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Begoña in Bilbao. It was made in the early 14th century. The veneration of the Virgin reached a new zenith two centuries later following the apparition of the Madonna near to the church. A new and magnificent basilica was erected in place of the previous church building. The miraculous image of "Nuestra Señora de Begoña" was henceforth declared to be the protectoress of Basque seamen.
This detailed and finely painted reverse glass painting follows an unknown engraving depicting the statue, clothed in opulent robes, on a column within the Baroque surround designed by the architect Pedro de la Torre (around 1596 - 1677). In the glass painting, the fluted columns of the engraved model have been additionally adorned with palm fronds, rose garlands and draperies, decorations that may have been added on occasion of the Virgin's feast day on 11th October.
Provenance
Art market, Vienna.
Literature
Illus. in Geyssant, Peintures sous verre. Eglomisés fixés et estampes sous verre de l'antiquité à nos jours, Paris 2008, p. 156.
Illus. in Steiner, ... eine andere Art von Malerey. Hinterglasgemälde und ihre Vorlagen 1550 - 1850, Berlin-Munich 2012, cat. no. 134.
Illus. in Steiner, Goldglanz und Silberpracht – Hinterglasmalerei aus vier Jahrhunderten, Berlin-Munich 2015, no. 61.
Exhibitions
2012 - 2013 Schaezlerpalais der Kunstsammlungen und Museen Augsburg.
2015 - 2016 Schaezlerpalais der Kunstsammlungen und Museen Augsburg.