Artwork

Szene aus dem Leben des Hl. Vinzenz Ferrer: Der Heilige bekehrt und tauft Sarazenen und Juden

Szene aus dem Leben des Hl. Vinzenz Ferrer: Der Heilige bekehrt und tauft Sarazenen und Juden is an unspecified painting by Agnolo degli Erri. It is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Agnolo degli Erri, a Modenese painter of the early Renaissance, produced a panel that illustrates a moment from the life of Saint Vincent Ferrer. The work, now part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection, shows the saint engaged in the conversion and baptism of Muslim and Jewish figures, a narrative drawn from medieval hagiographies.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the saint’s missionary zeal, portraying him as the agent of spiritual transformation for Saracens and Jews. By emphasizing the act of baptism, the image underscores the medieval belief in the universal reach of Christian salvation and reflects the saint’s reputation as a fervent evangelist.

Technique & Style

Executed in the Gothic tradition that persisted in northern Italy, the painting displays the characteristic linearity and delicate coloration of the Quattrocento. Erri’s handling of figures and drapery reveals an emerging interest in naturalistic form, while the overall composition retains a hierarchical arrangement typical of devotional works of the period.

History & Provenance

Created during the mid‑15th century, the panel was likely intended for a confraternal or ecclesiastical setting associated with the cult of Saint Vincent Ferrer. It entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings in the 19th century, where it remains a documented example of Modenese painting from the transition between Gothic and Renaissance aesthetics.