Saint Bernadette Soubirous Portrait and Religious Scene (1891)

This remarkable double-sided devotional painting on copper showcases exceptional craftsmanship and deep spiritual reverence. On the recto, a finely rendered portrait of Saint Bernadette Soubirous is depicted with striking naturalism and detail. The young visionary of Lourdes is portrayed with a gentle, lifelike presence, her features bathed in soft light and crowned by a delicate halo that reinforces the sacred, devotional tone of the image. The portrait is signed with the initials “EM” and dated “Rome, January 6, 1891,” confirming its creation in Rome at the start of 1891 and reflecting the artist’s heartfelt dedication to this holy subject.

On the verso, the painting reveals an equally captivating sacred scene: Christ and the Virgin Mary in a traditional iconographic setting, surrounded by a host of angels. This composition is executed in the rich manner of 17th-century Flemish devotional art, evoking the grandeur and symbolism of the Baroque era. The figures of Christ and the Virgin are rendered with meticulous detail and a luminous palette, their heavenly entourage of angels enhancing the scene’s reverent atmosphere. The verso’s old master style and vivid imagery harmonize beautifully with the recto’s serene portrait, together forming a complementary pair of devotional images within a single work.

oil on copper (double-sided) unframed 25 x 20 cm framed 34 x 29 cm Signed/Inscribed: Initialed "EM", inscribed "Rome, January 6, 1891" Recto Subject: Portrait of Saint Bernadette Soubirous with halo (devotional) Verso Subject: Christ and the Virgin Mary with angels (Flemish 17th-century style composition)

Provenance: From a French private collection