Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa)

A bust-length portrait of a woman (Madonna) in a prayerful, somewhat ecstatic pose, with her head lifted, her gaze directed upward, her arms pressed to her chest, and her fingers intertwined. Her hair is hidden under a golden veil, and her shoulders are covered with a blue cloak.
Similar images of Our Lady of Sorrows and the Passion of Christ were painted for devozione private (private devotions) and enjoyed great success among the artist’s contemporaries. Guido Reni himself created the classic and canonical versions of these images, which became widespread in the Catholic world into the 19th century. He was assisted by artists from his workshop. It is quite probable that this work was painted by the venerable artist, Guido Reni.