Hello,
I'm an art historyan from Italy and I found a painting representing the Lady of Sorrow with a sword or dagger I'm trying to understand from what time is it.
The painting seems to be from XVII or XVIII century, I'd like to know something about the sword (dagger). Can someone help me?
Thank you so much

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Looks like a stiletto dagger to me. Or, a stylized single-handed sword...shrunken down. I don't think it's meant to depict an actual weapon, but more of a concept of emotion...sadness and a piercing of the heart. That's the way I see it anyway. :\ .....McM

Thank you! I should date the stiletto... maybe you could understand something watching the decoration of this close up...

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Your pictures aren't detailed enough to see decoration, but the handle/guard shape is typical of a certain type of North Italian stilettos, generally dated late XVI to XVII centuries. I researched the type recently for a repro project (posted here at http://myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=36363&highlight= ).

Alex.