Artwork
Vision of St Augustine
Vision of St Augustine is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Filippo Lippi. It dates from 1452 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1452, this tempera panel by the Florentine painter Filippo Lippi portrays a contemplative scene centered on Saint Augustine. The composition balances a dignified elder figure with a kneeling youth, set against a tranquil landscape of trees, hills and distant water, conveying a mood of quiet reverence typical of early Renaissance religious works.
Subject & Meaning
The elder, identified by his white habit, pink mantle and golden halo, represents Augustine of Hippo, while the kneeling boy, also haloed, suggests a disciple or a youthful embodiment of devotion. Their gestures—Augustine’s extended hand and the boy’s reaching response—imply the transmission of spiritual insight or divine vision, emphasizing themes of guidance and piety.
Technique & Style
Lippi employs tempera on panel, a medium that allows fine detail and luminous color. The figures are rendered with delicate modeling, soft chiaroscuro, and precise linear outlines, while the background features a modestly naturalistic landscape rendered in muted greens and blues, reflecting the Quattrocento’s shift toward spatial depth and atmospheric calm.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Lippi aligns with his mature period, during which he managed a prolific workshop that trained artists such as Sandro Botticelli and his son Filippino Lippi, contributing to the diffusion of his stylistic approach across Italy.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Filippo Lippi (c. 1406 – 8 October 1469), also known as Lippo Lippi, was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Quattrocento (fifteenth century) and a Carmelite priest. He was an early Renaissance master of a painting…
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