Artwork
Die Heilige Sippe
Die Heilige Sippe is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Felix Ivo Leicher. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1770 by the Czech‑Austrian painter Felix Ivo Leicher, this small‑scale work is executed on copper and belongs to the late Rococo period. It is part of the permanent holdings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed among the museum’s Baroque and Rococo religious paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a tender religious scene: the infant Christ is cradled by the Virgin Mary, while Saint Joseph stands nearby, holding a book. A shepherd’s lamb rests at their feet, symbolising innocence and the pastoral aspect of the Holy Family’s early life.
Technique & Style
Leicher employed the luminous qualities of copper as a support, allowing a fine, detailed brushwork and a subtle sheen. Light falls across the faces, creating a delicate chiaroscuro that separates the figures from a muted, cloud‑filled sky, a hallmark of Rococo’s graceful handling of light and atmosphere.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection in the 19th century, where it has remained in public view. Its provenance prior to acquisition is not extensively documented, but it reflects Leicher’s activity across the Habsburg lands during his mature period.
Context
Leicher worked within the artistic currents of the Habsburg Empire, where Rococo’s ornamental elegance merged with devotional subjects. The work’s intimate scale and use of copper align with contemporary practices for private devotional images intended for personal contemplation rather than large‑scale church altarpieces.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Felix Ivo Leicher (18 or 19 May 1727 – 20 February 1812) was a Czech-Austrian painter of altarpieces and secular works, which was spread to a wide area throughout the Habsburg Empire and beyond.
