Gaetano Lapis (attributed to) - The Guardian Angel oil on canvas 200 x 164 cm The vertical composition shows an angel with outstretched wings, wrapped in a light-coloured tunic and a broad blue mantle, holding a naked child partially covered by a drape and pointing upwards with his right hand, a symbolic gesture of guidance and spiritual elevation, while a monstrous figure alluding to defeated evil appears in the lower part. The iconography is part of the post-Tridentine Catholic devotional tradition of the guardian angel as protector of the innocent soul, with a didactic and moral function; From a stylistic point of view, the work shows features of the late Baroque, such as the dynamic but balanced composition, the softness of the drapery, the warm and shaded colours and the diffused light, elements that recall the lesson of Sebastiano Conca, the artist's master, directing the language towards more lyrical and sentimental outcomes typical of the 18th century.We thank Prof. Petrucci for his valuable support in attributing the work.