Oval format painting treating a subject dear to Christian tradition: Saint Augustine meeting the Child who attempts to pour the sea into a small vessel, an allegorical episode linked to the mystery of the Trinity.

The work stands out for the atmospheric quality of the landscape, built with free, vibrant handling, where the luminous sky, wind-driven clouds, and the dark, jagged shoreline become the true protagonists. The small figures of Saint Augustine and the Child, summarised with a few swift touches, sit naturally within a vision of strong poetic suggestion.

According to the accompanying text, close examination of the painting and the favourable state of preservation support attribution entirely to Magnasco’s hand, recognising the rapid, nervous brushwork among the most characteristic traits of the Genoese master. The painting belongs fully to Il Lissandrino’s highest output, where narrative invention and freedom of execution reach a particularly intense balance.

Height 95.5 cm, width 73.5 cm
(37 5/8 in.; 28 7/8 in.)