Portrait of a Young Monk, Italy, late 17th century. 32x32 cm. The work employs the typical stylistic elements of late 17th-century devotional painting from southern Italy to depict, against a dark background, the face of a young monk illuminated by faith. The painting was commissioned at the time by my family in Puglia from an artist now unknown to depict an uncle, known as Alfonsino, who had taken his vows and died in the plague epidemic of 1629.