Religion

Dolci was known for his paintings of saints and allegories. They were often characterized by a religious feeling that was amplified by the dark background. Here we see a personification of Religion holding a Holy Communion vessel and an olive branch in the hope of eternal life. Above hovers a dove as symbol of the Holy Spirit. Dolci’s work was held in high esteem by the Northern European art collectors of the time, but came to be derided in the nineteenth century. In contemporary art, however, this type of intense baroque religiosity has gained new impetus.