Altarpiece with an Allegory of Wealth, 18th-century Genoese school

18th-century Genoese school
Small altarpiece with an Allegory of Wealth
Marble, 35.5 x 66 x 17 cm

Latin inscription on the front: IN TE DOMINE SPERAVI NON CONFUNDAR IN AETERNUM [In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped: let me never be confounded]
A small private devotional altarpiece carved in white marble, attributable to 18th-century Genoese production, characterized by a Late Baroque style that remains dynamic yet is already inclined toward a softer Rococo sensibility. The composition is set upon a rectangular base bearing an engraved Latin inscription: "IN TE DOMINE SPERAVI NON CONFUNDAR IN AETERNUM" (Psalm 30), a formula expressing trust in divine protection frequently associated with domestic devotional objects.

At the sides are two reclining putti, modeled with soft and naturalistic anatomies, blowing into long trumpets turned toward the center. Each rests upon a cornucopia filled with coins, a clear allegory of wealth and abundance—an iconographic theme that, in a Christian context, takes on the symbolic value of prosperity granted by Providence. The central circular motif, framed by scrolls and racemes, encloses a polychrome stone insert (likely marble or hardstone), conceived as the visual and spiritual focal point of the object.

The altarpiece served a devotional function: it was placed on a table, a shelf, or in a small domestic oratory to support a crucifix, a sacred statuette, a relic, or a votive image. In some instances, it could also serve as a base for candlesticks during private prayer.