Artwork
Beweinungsaltar: Ein Heiliger mit dem Stifter Bernhard (?) von Huchtenbroich
Beweinungsaltar: Ein Heiliger mit dem Stifter Bernhard (?) von Huchtenbroich is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder. It dates from 1531 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Beweinungsaltar: Ein Heiliger mit dem Stifter Bernhard (?
About this work
Overview
Beweinungsaltar: Ein Heiliger mit dem Stifter Bernhard (?) von Huchtenbroich is a 1531 religious painting by Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder, a prominent German Renaissance artist based in Cologne. The work exemplifies the Mannerist style.
Subject & Meaning
The saint wears distinctive attire—a red robe with gold trim, blue sleeves adorned with gold patterns, and holds a pink flag featuring a yellow cross.
The painting depicts a somber scene of mourning, focusing on a saint standing alongside a kneeling donor, identified as Bernhard (?) von Huchtenbroich. The saint wears distinctive attire—a red robe with gold trim, blue sleeves adorned with gold patterns, and holds a pink flag featuring a yellow cross. The donor, in a white robe with a pink sash, holds an unspecified small object. A shield bearing a lion and crown is also present, suggesting noble or familial heraldry.
Technique & Style
Executed in the Mannerist style, the painting showcases Bruyn’s characteristic attention to detail in portraiture and religious themes, hallmarks of his work as Cologne’s leading portrait artist during the Renaissance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1531, the altarpiece is now part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection, reflecting its significance within German Renaissance art.
Context
As a product of the German Renaissance, this work reflects the religious and artistic sensibilities of early 16th-century Cologne, where Bruyn was renowned for altarpieces and portraits.
Legacy
While specific lasting impacts of this piece are not broadly documented, it contributes to the broader legacy of Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder as a pivotal figure in Cologne’s Renaissance art scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomäus Bruyn (1493–1555), usually called Barthel Bruyn or Barthel Bruyn the Elder, was a German Renaissance painter active in Cologne. He painted altarpieces and portraits, and was Cologne's foremost portrait painter of his day.
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