The Simulacrum of M. SS. of Carmel  On an artistic marble altar the simulacrum of Maria SS. of Carmel. By an unknown artist from the first half of the 16th century, in polychrome walnut wood, it responds to the typical iconography of the Carmelite order and represents the Madonna who with the left shows the Child on whom he slightly reclines his head without turning his head.  he looks and with his right hand he holds out the scapular. The Virgin, dressed in a high-waisted tunic tied by a belt according to Renaissance fashion, is almost entirely covered with a heavy cloak. This, with the elegant and sinuous drapery, barely suggests the position of the body. Much of the polychrome coating has survived unfortunate restorations. Both the robe and the cope are enriched with gilding in imitation of motifs embroidery  phytomorphic and geometric. A rich band closes the edges of the coat. The knee of the Madonna, worn out by innumerable hands, shows the popular devotion of which the image is the object.  A recurring iconography, therefore, in the sculptural production of a Marian subject that has been repeated for centuries and with few variations.  The richness of the details, the undulating folds of the mantle and dress are certainly attributable to the sculptural art of the early sixteenth century, strongly influenced by Spanish taste and culture, which enriched the simulacra with precious garments embroidered in gold, silver and silk.  A recent restoration has brought the work back to its original splendor after three centuries of arbitrary overlapping. The devotional decorations that permanently covered the simulacrum have been removed, allowing an immediate reading of the details.   Text:  Vincenzo Scrudato