The Young Christ Emmanuel Neapolitan School attributed to Francesco Solimena

The Young Christ Emmanuel
Neapolitan School
Attributed to Francesco Solimena (1657–1747)
Early 18th century
Oil on copper, oval format.
Dimensions with frame cm 27 x 22.
Dimensions without frame cm 14 x 12.
Later carved and gilded wooden frame
Very good condition

This small devotional painting presents the youthful face of Christ according to the Eastern iconographic model of Christ Emmanuel: a beardless countenance, framed by soft curls, with a calm and introspective gaze. The blue mantle over the light tunic gently recalls Marian iconography, lending the subject both spiritual resonance and luminous presence.

The delicacy of the brushwork, the subtle modelling of the flesh tones, the architectural structure of the face, and the harmony of the whole suggest an attribution to Francesco Solimena, a leading figure in the Neapolitan painting scene between the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

Copper, a precious support, was often used for small-scale works intended for private devotion. The oval format enhances the intimate character of the subject, making it especially suited for a domestic setting or a curated collection.