La Madonna della Candelora

Our Lady of Jose 'Rodriguez, 1742

La Madonna della Candelora

This canvas entitled Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria originates from the island of Tenerife, just from Candelaria, a small town that was built and named after the Virgin appeared there.

Andrea Bonito, Domenico's brother and son of Julius Caesar, was field marshal of King Charles III and Commanding General of the island of Tenerife, located in Porto's Holy Cross.

A Candelaria worked actively painter Jose Rodriguez, a native of the town of Oliva on the neighboring island of Fuerteventura, which he painted for the Dominican convent of San paintings Dominic, St. Catherine of Siena and St. Peter Martyr. At this talented artist Andrea Bonito commissioned in 1742 a copy of the framework of Candelaria who was venerated in the convent to take her to the Dominican Bonito, where the Duke was his brother Domenico (+ 19 January 1753). The news is brief but essential reading in the title block located at the base of the picture.

On April 19, 1742, by an act of notary Collocola Raymond of Naples, Andrea Bonito built a chapel in the parish church dedicated toCandelaria in 1753 and later a chaplain with the same title, which is a legacy or donation to the obligation of celebration of St. Messe. That document states: "In the year 1753, with public instrument of 'November 5 for the acts of the notary D. Francis Rossi of Mirabella His Excellency the Duke of Bonito D. Andrea Bonito, Inspector General of the royal troops of King Charles III, wishing to enact the ultimate test will of his father D. Giulio Cesare Bonito, President of the Royal House and Duke Island, founded a chaplaincy under the title of S. Mary of the candle as it was the Father's D. Julius Caesar, and endowed this chantry of ducats 41.19 per year.