Saint Augustine washes the feet of Christ the pilgrim - SOLD

The magnificent canvas that we have the pleasure of presenting to you today depicts the washing of the feet of Christ the pilgrim, an episode taken from the original narration of the Gospel of John 13, 1-15 "Jesus washing the feet of his apostles". It is a legendary Augustinian iconography, apparently born in Spain, to emphasize the importance of welcoming the wanderer: Jesus appears in disguise, precisely as a pilgrim, to Augustine who, as a sign of hospitality, washes his feet. The scene depicts the precise moment in which the hermit recognizes the Messiah in the wanderer and understands that the time has come to return to the world, putting himself at the service of the Son of God through his words, his writings and his model of life. An elderly bearded man who is already a saint (the halo is visible) is kneeling next to a basin and is drying the guest's foot, behind him two monks are helping him during the ablution, ready to hand the mystic a jug of water or a towel. Sitting on a stool a young man dressed as a traveler with a cloak is holding the staff (iconographic symbol of the pilgrim) but a luminous halo, which surrounds his head, reveals his true identity to the elderly monk. A beam of light breaks through the sky and illuminates the two main figures who emerge from a dark background, played on shades of brown, intent on exchanging a knowing look. The author of the work is Giovanni Battista Casoni (Lerici, 1610 - Genoa, 1686) initially a pupil in the flourishing workshop of Domenico Fiasella known as Sarzana, later a collaborator of the Master as well as brother-in-law. Despite the cumbersome figure of Fiasella, the painter managed to maintain his personality and autonomy working for numerous Orders of Friars Minor, perhaps also thanks to the help of the friar/younger brother Agostino. Saint Augustine of Hippo is among the greatest "fathers" of the Church, that is, among those who reworked Christian philosophy after 200. In addition to being a Father and Doctor of the Church, he was defined as one of the greatest geniuses of humanity; philosopher, theologian, poet, writer, mystic, bishop and more. The enormous artistic heritage that depicts him testifies not only to his greatness but also to his constant presence and modernity over the centuries, and perhaps Casoni in this canvas wanted to pay tribute to his Franciscan brother Agostino. Dimensions: canvas 199 x 143 cm - frame 215 x 158.5 cm