Josefa de Óbidos (Josefa de Ayala Figueira)Reading the Fate of the Christ Childaka The Child

Josefa de Óbidos (Josefa de Ayala Figueira)

Reading the Fate of the Christ Child

akaThe Child Jesus and the Fortune-Teller

Oil on copper (Signed and dated: Josepha..1667)

The Detroit Institute of Arts (2020.15)

“Josefa de Óbidos successfully infused this work with her enormous talent and inspiration, choosing a subject that was extremely unusual for the time, dressing the Virgin Mary in a gypsy hat, while a woman, also a gypsy, reads the Christ Child’s palm. The scene is overflowing with unrivalled tenderness and warmth.” (via Jaime Eguiguren Art & Antiques · read more + catalogue)