A painting on oak panel by Sevillan woman painter Josefa de Ayala called Obidos (1630?-1684) representing “Saint Bernard's Lactation” fetched a surprising
1120 000 FF (US $ 163,500) (Inclusive of buyer's premium) at the Hotel Drouot in Paris on June 16th 2000. This work signed and dated 1670 measuring 57 x 44,5 cm only carried a top pre-sale estimate of 100,000 FF. Josefa de Ayala joined Balthasar Gomes Figueira, her father, in Portugal around 1644 and worked in Obidos until her death. Much influenced by Sevillan painters she was however considered as a true Portuguese artist. She mainly painted still lifes and a few religious works, like this one which was quite reminiscent of Zurbaran's style. In such works, painted in a somewhat naïve way, she evoked the lives of Saints choosing themes that were much trendy in Catholic circles in Spain or Portugal. This work showing the Virgin pressing her breast to feed Saint Bernard was acquired by a Portuguese collector.
Home
