1905 La Madonna del Dito by Carlo Dolci Vintage Art Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

This poignant art postcard features the Mater Dolorosa, famously known as "La Madonna del Dito" (The Madonna of the Finger), by the Italian Baroque master Carlo Dolci. The scene captures the Virgin Mary in a moment of deep, pensive grief, her head bowed and eyes cast downward. The title refers to the tiny glimpse of her thumb or finger peeking through her heavy blue mantle, a signature detail of this specific composition. Dolci was celebrated for his intense, high-finish religious works that focused on the emotional and spiritual interiority of his subjects. This postcard illustrates the smooth, idealized features and rich, dark palette that defined 17th-century Florentine devotional art, intended to inspire profound reflection and piety.

Details

Era: Divided Back (circa 1905–1915)
City: Florence (Firenze)
State or Region: Tuscany
Country: Italy / USA (Publisher locations)
Topic: Carlo Dolci Art, La Madonna del Dito, Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, Italian Baroque, Religious Devotional Art
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist: Carlo Dolci (1616–1686)
Publisher: G. Cusumano, Florence, New York, and Boston (No. 1095)
Printer: Printed in Italy
Print Type: Chromolithograph

Additional Information

This postcard was published by G. Cusumano, a firm with offices in Florence, New York, and Boston, highlighting the robust international trade in fine art reproductions during the early 20th century. The manufacturing date is narrowed to 1905–1915, reflecting the peak era for high-quality Italian-printed chromolithographs destined for the American market. The "Printed in Italy" mark is a sign of the premium color-work for which Italian printers were renowned during the Golden Age of postcards. This specific card, part of a numbered series (No. 1095), documents one of the most beloved images from the collections in Florence. Images of the Mater Dolorosa were among the most popular religious subjects of the period, often kept as personal devotional keepsakes.

This postcard would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.

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