Mid-19th century oil on canvas, “Portrait of an Ecclesiastic”, by Italian painter Amadeo Augero (1799-1885). Painted holding his holy book, and wearing his sombre robes, this serious-looking priest is sitting on a carved wooden chair, his piousness preserved for posterity. Augero had an atelier in Turin in norther Italy, and was well known for his religious depictions. The painting is signed and dated (1857) in its lower left hand corner.