Who painted L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach)?

L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach) was painted by Bartolomeo Schedoni.

Where can I see L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach)?

L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach) is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach)?

L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach) is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach)

Bartolomeo Schedoni

L´elemosina (Das Almosen) (Kopie nach) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomeo Schedoni. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Bartolomeo Schedoni’s oil painting, dated 1689, is part of the collection at Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. The work presents a nocturnal interior where several figures, robed and turbanned, cluster around an infant cradled by a woman. Their gazes converge on the child, creating a focal point that draws the viewer into the intimate, yet tense, atmosphere of the scene.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a gathering of individuals—likely travelers or beggars—who pause to observe a newborn. The contrast between the dark surroundings and the illuminated infant suggests themes of vulnerability, charity, and the human response to new life. The attentive audience, rendered with varied expressions, underscores a collective curiosity or concern for the child’s fate.

Technique & Style

Schedoni employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark light against deep shadow to model the figures with a sculptural quality. The illumination falls on the baby and the woman’s hands, while the surrounding characters recede into darkness, heightening drama and spatial depth. This handling of light and shade reflects the Baroque interest in emotional intensity and three‑dimensional illusion.

History & Provenance

Created in the late seventeenth century, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings at an unspecified date, becoming part of the museum’s extensive Baroque collection. Its attribution to Schedoni, an Italian painter known for dynamic religious and genre scenes, aligns with his oeuvre and the period’s stylistic tendencies.