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French Louis XVI Style Allegorical Clock of “Paul and Virginie"
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare Louis XVI style mantel clock after a late 18th century original inspired by the novel ‘Paul and Virginia’ written in 1788 by Bernardin de Sain...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

A Modern Stylised Bronzed Resin Bust of Venus
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A stylized classical bronzed resin bust of Venus after The Venus de Medici a Hellenistic marble sculpture depicting the Greek Goddess of love Aphrodite. The bust sits on an ebon...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Classical Greek Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin

19 Century Grand Tour Bronze Neoclassical Bas-Relief
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A Grand Tour heavy bronze bas-relief of a classical scene showing a retinue of six figures consisting of two nude standing males and three classically draped maidens including Athena...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

19thC French Signed "Bleu Celeste" and Gold Sevres Vase with gilt bronze mounts
By Cristalleries De Sevres
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A magnificent large scale 19thC French "bleu celeste"and gold Sevres porcelain vase mounted with decorative gilt bronze handles and gilt bronze base. The 'bleu celeste' coloured porc...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Vases

Materials

Bronze

A "Giclee" Canvas of George Washington after a 1779 Painting by Charles Peale
By Charles Willson Peale
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A "giclee" print on canvas of a full-length portrait of George Washington celebrating victory over the British at the Battle of Princeton in 1777 after a painting executed by Charles Peale...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Belgian American Colonial Decorative Art

Materials

Canvas

French Empire style Brass Column Lamp with an Eagle
By Empire Art Products Co.
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A highly decorative French empire style lamp likely made in the early 20thC. The polished brass column was likely the stem of a candelabra which was later embellished with an eagle ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Empire Table Lamps

Materials

Brass

French Empire Bronze Clock Depicting Urania Greek Muse of Astronomy
By Lesieur
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A magnificent large gilded and patinated bronze period French Empire mantle clock depicting Urania the Greek Muse of Astronomy standing on a stepped rectangular gilded bronze base h...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

A 19 Century Nanking Porcelain Vase on an Ormolu base turned into a Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A large late 19 Century Qing Era Chinese Nanking Porcelain Vase in famille verte crackle glaze decorated with intricate warrior and landscape scenes The vase would have been exported to France from Nanking China...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Asian Chinese Export Table Lamps

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Large Grey/Green Fluted Marble Columns
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of fluted round marble columns, the marble being a mid green colour with grey veining; both with circular tops and bottoms; likely Italian l...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Neoclassical Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Marble

A Small Watercolor of “Sunrise” by Nadezhda Fedorovna Stepanova-Senichkina
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully executed impressionist watercolor on cardboard titled sunrise at a suburb of Leningrad ( St Petersburg now) signed and dated 1989 by Russian artist Nadezhda Fedorovna S...
Category

Late 20th Century Russian Modern Paintings

Materials

Paper

A Patinated Bronze Statue of a Seated Greek Scholar signed Moreau
By Mathurin Moreau
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A patinated cast bronze statue of a classically draped Greek scholar sitting sideways on a Klismos chair with the trademark griphons as front leg supports, the subject holding a pe...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Neoclassical Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

A Late 19 Century Malachite clock Topped by a Gilt Bronze Bust of Napoleon
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A simple yet elegant relatively rare malachite cased clock topped by a gilt bronze bust of a young Napoleon in uniform after the marble original work by Jean Antoine Houdon.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Malachite, Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Allegorical Clock of the Astronomical Sciences
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a period French Empire mantle clock in finely chased and gilded bronze made in France in the first quarter of the 19thC. One of the Greek muses with a star atop h...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Three Early 19 Century Coalport, Worcestor and Paris Porcelain Plates
By Coalport Porcelain
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A set of three rare early 19 Century porcelain plates all in orange red gold and white hues. The plate shown on the left is a Chamberlains Worcestor, the middle plate is a Coalport...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique "Le Jockey Club" 1930's Horse Racing Binoculars with Compass
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A French silvered brass and brown leather Horse Racing binoculars stamped "Le Jockey Club Paris" presented in their original brown leather case. ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments

Materials

Brass

Bronze Bust of an African Mother Breastfeeding her Child signed Gardon
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully cast Art Nouveau dark brown patinated bronze bust of a young African mother tenderly holding and breastfeeding her baby. The bronze is signed Gardon an unlisted scul...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Busts

Materials

Bronze

A Pair of Small 19 Century Chinese Patinated Bronze Statues of Gods or Deities
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of exceptional small patinated bronze castings of a male and female Chinese Deities or Gods possibly representing Shouxing God of Longevity Immortality and Good Fortune, and G...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Chinese Ming Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Art Nouveau Bronze Statue of a lightly draped Nude Woman by Sylvain Norga
By Sylvain Norga
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A patinated bronze Art Nouveau style statue of a lightly draped standing nude woman with her arms behind her head fingers run through her hair in a the manner of Rodin by Belgian S...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Breccia Marble, Bronze

A Rare Chamberlains Worcester 1798 "Disce Pati" Admiral Duncan Armorial Plate
By Chamberlains Worcester
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An extremely rare late 18 Century Admiral Duncan Chamberlains Worcester porcelain plate, the centre with an armorial crest of a ship in full sail beneath the banner ‘Disce Pati" within a wide spiral border of salmon pink stripes and gilt foliage sprays. There is some age related rubbing of the gilding but the plate is otherwise in great condition with no visible cracks chips or repairs. "Disce Pati" in Latin meaning "Learn to Suffer...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century English British Colonial Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

3 Aynsley Porcelain Plates with Green Borders and Paintings of British Castles
By John Aynsley
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A set of three late Victorian Aynsley bone china wall plates with a light green border centered with hand painted images of Arundel Castle in England...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century English Late Victorian Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Late 19 Century Italian Neo-Classical Carved Carrara Marble Planter
By Antonio Canova
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This classic planter is carved from a single piece of Carrara marble. The wasted shaped pot sits on four large lions paw feet each of which are topped...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Italian Greco Roman Planters and Jardinieres

Materials

Carrara Marble

Large oil on canvas Painting of a Shepherd herding his Flock by Henri Matthys
By Henri Matthys
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A calming bucolic painting of a shepherd herding his flock of sheep back home at sunset along a country lane assisted by his sheepdog. The painting is presented in a gesso carved g...
Category

Early 20th Century Belgian Victorian Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Mid-Century Spanish Souvenir Model of a late 18 Century Frigate
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This souvenir model of a late 18 Century Sailing Frigate was crafted in Spain, circa 1950 and sits on an integral wooden base decorated with a small plaque which reads “Fragata Espanola...
Category

Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Nautical Objects

Materials

Bronze

Chalk Drawing of US Army In Action on an Armored Vehicle in Europe in WWII
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An interesting piece of World War II Militaria consisting of a chalk sketch or drawing of three US Military personnel in combat with guns in hand riding on what appears to be a 1943...
Category

Mid-20th Century Belgian Mid-Century Modern Drawings

Materials

Paper

Pair of Dutch Empire Stained Wood, Gilt Bronze and Beveled Glass Mirrors
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of relatively large Empire style rectangular mirrors; the frames having a gilded bronze molding around the glass, and gilt rosettes on the top two sides; the mirrors are ...
Category

Early 20th Century Dutch Empire Revival Wall Mirrors

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze Clock with Bust of Apollo Belvedere
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A period French Empire Apollo Belvedere mantle clock in gilt bronze, the rectangular plinth on a stepped base richly decorated with acanthus. The plinth itself houses the large white...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Empire Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock of Seated Cupid Holding a Rose
By Claude Hemon, Pierre-Victor Ledure
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Finest quality period French Empire clock depicting a seated winged cupid holding a rose; the case in gilt and patinated bronze. The clock show a gilt cupid sitting cross legged on t...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Period French Empire Mantle Clock Depicting a Winged Cupid Playing a Lute
By André-Antoine Ravrio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine quality chased and gilded French Empire mantle clock depicting a standing winged cupid to the right of the clock plinth playing a lute. He looks to his right reading his sheet music and other elements including a torch, flambeau, wreath etc. On the left side of the clock plinth is a three legged...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Empire Gilt Bronze Clock of Standing Classical Lady Unveiling an Urn of Plenty
By A. Ravrio
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late French Empire mantle clock in gilded bronze depicting a standing classical lady on the left side of the clock plinth with her left ar...
Category

Antique 1820s French Empire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French 'Rope Twist' Baccarat Lamp
By Baccarat
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A late 19th century French crystal lamp by the famous Paris Baccarat company in the design referred to as 'rope twist'. There are five crystal components that make up the lamp. The c...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Belle Époque Table Lamps

Materials

Crystal

19th Century American Carved Open Armchair
By Queen Anne
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully carved stained wood open armchair in the American Queen Anne style.
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Queen Anne Chairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood

19th Century Baltic Neoclassical Style Crystal and Brass Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A neoclassic cut crystal chandelier, the three circular brass frames of differing dimensions are all hung with long cut crystals and almond shaped drops and chains. The bottom sectio...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Baltic Baltic Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Crystal, Brass

Baltic / Russian Style Chandelier
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The chandelier embodies some of the best design features of early 19th century Russian/Baltic chandeliers, featuring cobalt blue glass around the central stem; a top spray of curved ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Baltic Baltic Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Contemporary Louis XVI Carved, Gilded and Painted Console and Mirror
By Georges Jacob
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Both console and mirror have been painted at one time, although the pictures provided might indicate that the mirror is painted a darker blue/grey than the console, (given that the pictures were taken separately), but the colour is the same. The fluted tapered legs of the console support...
Category

Late 20th Century French Louis XVI Pier Mirrors and Console Mirrors

Materials

Marble

19 Century Napoleon III Chinese Famille Rose Porcelian and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine and rare large scale Chinese porcelain and gilt bronze mantle clock , the body of the in hand painted rose medallion design, (famille rose), and richly embellished with finely...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Napoleon III Chinese Famille Rose and Gilt Bronze Vase Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine and rare large scale Chinese porcelain and gilt bronze mounted vases converted into lamps. The vases are characterized by hand painted Famille Rose medallion design and richly...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Impressionist Style Painting of Le Pont Marie in Paris Signed Morgan
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mid century impressionist style oil on canvas showing Le Pont Marie one of many bridges across the Seine in Paris during the fall or winter by an un documented artist who simply si...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Clairtone Project G2 Series T11 Console Stereo System & Garrard Turntable
By Clairtone
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
On offer is a rare completely original Clairtone G2 Series Home Stereo System from 1966 featuring two distinct exotic wooden boxes one that houses the tun...
Category

Vintage 1960s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Musical Instruments

Materials

Aluminum

19thC Engraving of Mozart Playing for Hapsburg Emperor Francis 1
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A 19th century engraving of a young Mozart playing the harpsichord in the court of Hapsburg Emperor Francis I featuring the Emperor and a number of courtesans and members of the Haps...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century European Louis XV Prints

Materials

Giltwood, Paper

Pair of French Empire Mahogany and Gilt Bronze Mounted Armchairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A striking pair of late French Empire mahogany armchairs, highly decorated with gilded bronze mounts on the upper back rail and all round the bottom of the seat as well. The curved open front arms terminate in carved dolphins. The chairs have been re-upholsterd in a cream and dark green striped antique silk fabric...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Empire Armchairs

Materials

Silk, Mahogany

Period Austrian Biedermeier Vanity Table Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A very handsome and unusual table top dressing mirror likely made in Austria in the early to mid 19thC. The shield shaped mirror has a gilded...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Table Mirrors

Materials

Wood

French Sevres Bisque Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Candelabra Lamp Signed Feuchere
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully cast French Serves bisque porcelain grouping showing two classically draped maidens or Graces standing on a circular bisque base with flutes and inset with decorative flames, on a further bisque base decorated with grapes and palmettes, the whole on a circular gilded bronze base resting on three tupie feet. Between the heads of the maidens there is a decorative gilded shaft which supports the 'new' top electrics as well as three curved gilded candle arms and nozzles. Incised on the top and back of the bisque base is the Sevres stamp with a number 2 between the interlaced L's. There is also the original sculptor's name J. J Feuchere for Jean Jacques Feuchere ( 1805 - 1852) etched on the base under the Graces...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis XVI Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Signed Late 19thC Cylinder Desk After a Model by J-F Oeben
By L. Cueunieres Ebeniste.
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
The finest quality Louis XV/XVI transitional style gilt bronze mounted tulipwood and amaranth cylinder desk by L. Cueunieres after models by Jean-Francois Oeben (French 1721-1763). T...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XV Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

Rare Pair of Famille Rose Porcelain and Ormolu Napoleon III Oil Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautiful French and Asian collaboration of a 19thC pair of Napoleon III Famille Rose porcelain, (from Canton China), and gilt bronze and brass oil lamps that miraculously include ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Napoleon III Porcelain

Materials

Ormolu

Large Blue and White Chinese Charger Depicting the Gods Fu Lu and Shou
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A very large and impressive blue and white Chinese porcelain Charger depicting the Taoist concept of Good Fortune (Fu) Good Stable Income (Lu) and Long Life (Shou). Fu is on the righ...
Category

Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Mid/Late 19thC French Napoleon III Ebonized and Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A simple, elegant 19thC French ebonized wood mirror with gilt decorative banding around the frame with the top frieze accented by a lion's head at either end and frolicking putti at...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Wall Mirrors

Materials

Wood

Art Deco Style Mid-Century Jacob Palmtag Desk Clock
By Jakob Palmtag
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Beautiful Art Deco style mid century clock -made in the 50's by the famous German maker Palmtag factory. The clock movement and dial are...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Art Deco Table Clocks and Desk Clocks

Materials

Cut Glass

Large 19hC French Aubusson Carpet in Flowery and Leafy Tropical Hues
By Royal Manufacture of Aubusson
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A magnificent Napoleon III Aubusson weave carpet having an unusual colour palette including two outer borders in pinks, reds, dark green, and an ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Aubusson Western European Rugs

Materials

Wool

A Pair of French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine pair of late 19thC French Empire style candelabra now wired into lamps. The very well cast and patinated winged Victory or Nike s...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Table Lamps

Materials

Marble, Bronze

19thC Gilded Wood Framed Beveled Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A simple rectangular beveled mirror with a bright beaded water-gilt frame.
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Wall Mirrors

Materials

Mirror, Giltwood

Single French Empire Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Winged Victory Candelabra
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A mid to late 19thC French Empire style candelabra that at one time was electrified. A finely chased patinated winged Nike or Winged Victory stands on a gi...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Empire Candelabras

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Silvered Bronze French Empire style Bouillotte Lamp
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a French Empire bouillotte lamp made of silvered bronze. The circular base supports four decorative candle arms with nozzles; ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Empire Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Large French Empire Gilt Bronze and Crystal Sconce Attributed to Thomire
By Pierre-Philippe Thomire
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A highly unusual large scale single French Empire wall sconce, the bronze having the finest chasing and gilding ever produced. A winged cupi...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Late 19 Century Napoleon III Rococo Style Gilt Wood and Gesso Framed Mirror
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A rare and highly unusual carved wood, gesso and gilded mirror frame in the full French Napoleon III style. The gilded frame itself is totally decorated with cartouches and is furthe...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Wall Mirrors

Materials

Gesso, Giltwood

19thC French Louis XVI style Mahogany Bookcase/Display Case/Vitrine
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An elegant Louis XVI style bookcase/display case, the mahogany case richly inlaid with gilded brass fillets to the two front doors and both sides, Each door has a three quarter panel...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Bookcases

Materials

Ormolu

Mid-Century five arm silvered metal Chandelier with alabaster shades
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This five arm chandelier with a simple silvered metal frame features five alabaster/composition shades, and is hung with tiers of genuine white marble pendants...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Alabaster, Metal

Chinese Lacquer Box
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A metal framed box with all-over lacquer decoration featuring multi-coloured flowers, leaves, ribbons. The inside of the box is veneered in a light wood. It is stamped China on the u...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Decorative Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

A 19 Century Bronze Statue of St Joan of Arc in full body armour on horseback
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
An small but exquisitely cast and highly detailed bronze statue of St Joan of Arc in full body battle armour including the horse with one hand holding ...
Category

Antique Mid-18th Century French Renaissance Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Pair of 19th C Signed Black Forest Style French Carved Walnut Hunting Gun Racks
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A highly rare and most unusual pair of carved walnut gun racks, each with a different carved bird at the bottom, one being a hawk or eagle with spread ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Black Forest Wall Brackets

Materials

Walnut

Pair of 18 Century Paintings of St Francis Xavier and St Carlo Borromeo
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A beautifully executed and rare complementary pair of oil on canvas paintings depicting two of the moist famous and important counter reformation catholic saints St Francis Xavier and St Carlo Borromeo shown in scenes of what the respective saints are mostly famous for. St Francis Xavier for the conversion to Christianity of many S. E Asian countries notably India and St Carlo Borromeo shown asking the Virgin Mary to intercede for the cessation of the terrible plague of 1576. The paintings are presented in refreshed gilded carved wooden frames and are unsigned. St. Francis Xavier was born in Spanish Navarre in 1506 and in 1528, he met St. Ignatius of Loyola. He became one of the seven in 1534 who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order). In 1536, he left the University of Paris and joined St. Ignatius in Venice. He was ordained in 1537, and in 1540 after the Society was recognized by the Pope, he journeyed to the Far East. Francis Xavier first evangelized the Portuguese colony of Goa in India, then Travancore, Ceylon, Malacca, and the surrounding islands. From there he journeyed to Japan, where he gave Christianity such deep roots that it survived centuries of violent persecution. He died on Sancian Island in 1552, while he was seeking to penetrate into the great forbidden land of China. Despite language problems, lack of funds, resistance from the Europeans as well as the natives, he persevered. St. Francis converted more people in his life than anyone since the Apostle St. Paul. He baptized over 3 million people, converted the entire town of Goa in India, and he labored in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan. He was truly a missionary par excellence. St Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584), was a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of Milan from 1565 to 1583. He was described in the decree for his canonization, as “a man, even while the world smiles on him with the utmost flattery, he lives crucified to the world, spiritually, trampling earthly things, seeking continuously the things of heaven, emulating the life of the Angels on earth, in his thoughts and actions. The plague began in the month of August that year. Milan was celebrating joyfully the arrival of Don John of Austria, on his way to Flanders, where he had been appointed governor. The city authorities were abuzz with excitement in their desire to bestow the highest honours on the Spanish prince, but Charles, who had been Archbishop of the diocese for six years, was following with concern the news coming from Trento, Verona and Mantua, where the plague had begun claiming victims. The first cases exploded in Milan on August 11th, right at the moment when Don John of Austria arrived. The victor of Lepanto, followed by the governor, Antonio de Guzmán y Zuñiga, departed the city, while Carlo Borromeo, who was in Lodi for the Bishop’s funeral, returned in haste. Confusion and fear reigned in Milan and the Archbishop dedicated himself completely to assisting the sick and ordering public and private prayers. Dom Prosper Guéranger sums up his infinite charity in this way: “In the absence of local authorities, he organized the health service, founded or renewed hospitals, sought money and provisions, decreed preventive measures. Most importantly though, he took steps to ensure spiritual help, assistance to the sick and the burial of the dead. Unafraid of being infected, he paid in person, by visiting hospitals, leading penitential processions, being everything to everyone, like a father and true shepherd” St. Carlo was convinced that the epidemic was “a scourge sent by Heaven” as chastisement for the sins of the people and that recourse to spiritual measures was necessary to fight against it: prayer and penitence. He rebuked the civil authorities for having placed their trust in human measures rather than divine ones. “Hadn’t they prohibited all the pious gatherings and processions during the time of the Jubilee? For him, and he was convinced of it, these were the causes of the chastisement. The magistrates who governed the city continued to oppose public ceremonies, out of fear that the large gathering of people would spread contagion, but Charles “who was guided by the Divine Spirit” – recounts another biographer – convinced them by citing various examples, among which was the one regarding St. Gregory the Great who had halted the plague devastating Rome in 590. While the pestilence spread, the Archbishop then ordered three general processions to take place in Milan on the 3rd, 5th and 6th of October, “to placate the wrath of God”. On the first day, the Saint, despite it not being the Lenten season, placed ashes on the heads of the thousands gathered, exhorting them to penitence. Once the ceremony was over, the procession went to the Basilica of St. Ambrose. Charles put himself at the head of the people, dressed in a hooded purple robe, barefoot, penitential cord at his neck and large cross in his hand. The second procession led by the Cardinal headed towards the Basilica of San Lorenzo. The third day the procession from the Duomo headed for the Basilica of Santa Maria at San Celso. St. Carlo carried in his hands a relique of Our Lord’s Holy Nail, which had been given by the Emperor Theodosius to St. Ambrose in the 5th century. The plague didn’t show any signs of waning and Milan appeared depopulated, as a third of its citizens had lost their lives and the others were in quarantine or didn’t dare leave their homes. The Archbishop ordered about twenty stone columns with a cross at the top to be erected in the main squares and city crossroads, allowing the inhabitants from every quarter to take part in the Masses and public prayers - from the windows of their homes. One of Milan’s protectors was St. Sebastian, the martyr the Romans had recourse to during the plague in 672. St. Charles suggested that the magistrates of Milan reconstruct the sanctuary dedicated to him, which was falling into ruins, and to celebrate a solemn feast in his honour for ten years. Finally in July 1577, the plague ceased and in September the founding stone was laid in the civic temple of St. Sebastian, where on January 20th every year, even today a Mass is offered to recall the end of the scourge. St.Carlo Borromeo died on November 3rd 1584 and was buried in the Duomo of Milan. His heart was solemnly translated to Rome, in the Basilica of Saints Ambrose...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century French Baroque Paintings

Materials

Canvas

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