Artwork
Der Wohlgeruch
Der Wohlgeruch is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bartholomeus Spranger. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Bartholomeus Spranger, a Flemish painter employed by Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, completed the work titled *Der Wohlgeruch* in 1590. The painting exemplifies the Northern Mannerist tendency to fuse Netherlandish detail with Italian compositional elegance, and it now resides in the Alte Pinakothek’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene presents a woman in profile leaning toward a small child, who clutches a plant with elongated stems. The woman’s dark hair is gathered back and she wears a modest necklace, while the child’s gesture suggests a tender, perhaps protective, interaction. The composition invites contemplation of maternal affection and the subtle exchange of scent suggested by the title.
Technique & Style
Spranger employs a chiaroscuro scheme that illuminates the woman’s cheekbones from one side, creating a sculptural sense of depth. Figures are rendered with the elongated proportions typical of Mannerism, and the background is deliberately plain, focusing attention on the profiles and the delicate interplay of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
Created for the imperial court in the late sixteenth century, *Der Wohlgeruch* entered the Bavarian royal collection and was eventually transferred to the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on public display. Its provenance reflects the movement of court artworks into state museums during the 19th‑century reorganization of royal holdings.
Context
The painting belongs to a period when Spranger and his contemporaries explored sensuality and refined elegance within a highly stylized framework. Northern Mannerism favored intricate, artificial compositions over naturalistic representation, a preference evident in the work’s poised figures and the restrained, decorative setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomeus Spranger or Bartholomaeus Spranger (21 March 1546 – 27 June 1611) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, sculptor, and designer of prints.
