The Capture of St. Thomas Aquinas Oil on Canvas Italy XVII Century

Oil painting on canvas.
Tuscan school of the seventeenth century.
Scion of an ancient Longobard lineage of Aquino (in the province of Frosinone), Thomas (born around 1226) went to Naples to study, in 1243 he entered the order of Dominican preachers against the wishes of his relatives, but during the journey to the northerner was arrested by his brothers and held prisoner for about a year.
In the scene, the young saint in the centre, already dressed in the Dominican habit, is surrounded on both sides by four richly dressed figures, precisely his relatives, probably including his mother, who hold him kindly, almost embracing him, while with gestures of the hands and the afflicted and loving looks try to convince him, almost begging him.
The figures are also placed in a prison, as indicated by the bars in the window on the right, to underline the coercive action performed.
Rich and detailed are the details of the clothes of the characters, with bright colors that contrast with Thomas' dress, plastic movements properly in Baroque taste.
Already restored and relined, the painting is in good condition, with evident cracking.
It is presented in an antique re-lacquered and re-gilded frame.