Salvator Mundi, oil on copper. North Italian school. Late 16th – early 17th century. 9 x 7 cm

Salvator Mundi, oil on copper.
North Italian school.
Late 16th – early 17th century. 9 x 7 cm

Technique: oil on copper.
Dimensions: 9cm x 7 cm. 
North Italian school, within a late-Mannerist context and showing affinities with the Lombard–Venetian tradition and the diffusion of Leonardo-inspired models.

This small image of the Salvator Mundi presents a youthful Christ, the face slightly turned, with fair complexion and loose hair rendered in fine curls. The inscription “SALVATOR MUNDI” and the gold highlights of the halo are typical of the small devotional copper paintings widely produced between the late 16th and the first decades of the 17th century.

The construction of the oval, the softened light and the gentle modelling of the features reflect the broad circulation of Leonardesque prototypes. It is not a direct copy, but a refined reworking of those models, often adapted into small, intimate formats for private devotion or for a studiolo.

Condition
Old copper sheet with natural patina on the reverse. Stable surface, with very minor wear and fine abrasions consistent with age. Overall good condition.