Artwork
Madonna del S. Gerolamo (Maria mit Kind, hll. Maria Magdalena, Hieronymus und Engeln)
Madonna del S. Gerolamo (Maria mit Kind, hll. Maria Magdalena, Hieronymus und Engeln) is an unspecified painting by Domenico Zanetti. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1713, this religious canvas by Italian artist Domenico Zanetti presents a solemn assembly of holy figures. The composition centers on a swaddled infant, presumed to be the Christ Child, attended by a female figure and a male saint, all set against a darkened backdrop that heightens the sense of reverence.
Subject & Meaning
The painting brings together the Virgin Mary, the infant Jesus, Saint Jerome, and, according to its title, Saint Mary Magdalene and attendant angels. Their arrangement suggests a contemplative intercession, with each saint embodying distinct virtues—Jerome’s scholarly devotion, Magdalene’s penitence—while the infant symbolizes divine presence.
Technique & Style
Zanetti employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark light to illuminate the faces and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast not only models the figures in a near‑sculptural relief but also directs the viewer’s gaze toward the central interaction between mother and child.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Zanetti, an early‑18th‑century painter active in the Veneto, is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records dating the piece to circa 1713.
Context
Produced during the late Baroque period, the painting reflects contemporary devotional trends that favored intimate, emotionally charged religious scenes. The inclusion of multiple saints aligns with Counter‑Reformation iconography, intended to inspire personal piety among viewers.
Artist & collection
