This is a beautiful oval oil on canvas depicting The Angel of the Annunciation, Italian School, Circa 1860 in date, after the original by Carlo Dolci (1616-1686),in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence. The painting is housed in an elegant giltwood Florentine frame which complements the subject of the painting really well. This is a delightful and beautifully executed painting. Condition: In excellent condition the painting and frame having been beautifully cleaned and restored in our workshops, please see photos for confirmation. Dimensions in cm: Height 107 x Width 90 - Frame Height 72 x Width 56 - Canvas Dimensions in inches: Height 3 feet, 6 inches x Width 2 feet, 11 inches - Frame Height 2 feet, 4 inches x Width 1 foot, 10 inches - Canvas Carlo Dolci ( 1616 - 1686 ) - was Italian painter born in Florence. Although he was precocious and apprenticed at a young age to Jacopo Vignali, Dolci was not prolific. "He would take weeks over a single foot", according to his biographer Baldinucci. His painstaking technique made him unsuited for large-scale fresco painting. He painted chiefly sacred subjects, and his works are generally small in scale, although he made a few life-size pictures. He often repeated the same composition in several versions, and his daughter, Agnese Dolci, also made excellent copies of his works. Among his best works are: St Sebastian; the Four Evangelists at Florence; Christ Breaking the Bread, the St Cecilia at the Organ, Adoration of the Magi in the National Gallery, London; the St. Catherine Reading and St Andrew praying before his Crucifixion (1646) in the Palazzo Pitti. He completed his portrait of Fra Ainolfo de' Bardi, when he was only sixteen. He also painted a large altarpiece (1656) for the church of Sant' Andrea Cennano in Montevarchi. As was typical for Florentine painters, this was a painting about painting, and in it the Virgin of Soriano holds a miraculous and iconic painting of St Dominic. Dolci was known for his piety. It is said that every year during Passion Week he painted a half-figure of the Saviour wearing the Crown of Thorns. In 1682, when he saw Giordano, nicknamed "fa presto" (quick worker), paint more in five hours than he could have completed in months, he fell into a depression. Mary Magdalene, Mary of Magdala, The Magdalene or St Magdalene - is a religious figure in Christianity. Mary Magdalene has the reputation in Western Christianity as being a repentant prostitute or loose woman. However, these claims are unfounded. Mary Magdalene travelled with Jesus as one of his followers. She is said to have witnessed Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Within the four Gospels she is named at least 12 times, more than most of the apostles. Carol Ann Morrow views the Gospel references as describing her as courageous, and brave enough to stand by Jesus in his hours of suffering, death and beyond. The Gospel of Luke says seven demons had gone out of her and the longer ending of Mark says Jesus had cast seven demons out of her. The "seven demons" may refer to a complex illness, as opposed to any form of sinfulness however, this is not a prominent view. Over the centuries she became an inspiration to prolific artists such as: Carlo Dolci, Guido Reni, Fra Angelico, Titian, Ambrosius Benson etc. Angel Gabriel - in Christianity he is a messenger who was entrusted to deliver several important messages on God’s behalf. Gabriel appears to at least three people in the Bible: first to the prophet Daniel next to Elisabeth priest's Zechariah wife to foretell and announce the miraculous birth of John the Baptist and finally to the virgin Mary to tell her that she would conceive and bear a son Gabriel’s name means “God is great,” and, as the angel of the annunciation. Our reference: 06646b Please feel free to email or call us (+44 20 8809 9605) to arrange a viewing in our North London warehouse. Shipping: We ship worldwide and deliver to Mainland UK addresses free of charge. A shipping cost to all other destinations must be requested prior to purchase. To request a shipping quote for the items in your cart, please click HERE. Delivery and return policy: We require that someone be home on the agreed delivery day if applicable, otherwise a redelivery fee will apply. In accordance with Distance Selling Regulations, we offer a 14-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the item. The item must be returned in its original packaging and condition. Unless the item is not as described in a material way, the buyer is responsible for return shipping expenses. Buyers are fully responsible for any customs duties or local taxes that may be incurred on items sent outside of the European Union.