Artwork
Hl. Sippe

Hl. Sippe is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Francesco Bissolo. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1512 by Venetian artist Francesco Bissolo, *Hl. Sippe* is an oil painting that belongs to the High Renaissance period. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies the religious subjects favored by Bissolo, a longtime disciple of Giovanni Bellini.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents six figures gathered closely together. A woman dressed in blue cradles an infant, while another woman in red holds a small child. The three male figures, each with long beards, stand beside them, all clothed in modest, flowing robes of earthy tones. The arrangement suggests a familial or saintly grouping, typical of devotional imagery of the era.
Technique & Style
Bissolo employs a subtle chiaroscuro, allowing light to illuminate the faces of the figures while leaving surrounding areas in gentle shadow. This handling of light creates a soft modeling of features and draws attention to the expressions, while the background remains indistinct, hinting at a vague landscape beyond the central group.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Francesco Bissolo continued to work in Venice for several decades, ultimately dying there in 1554 after a prolonged illness.
Context
Working under the influence of Giovanni Bellini, Bissolo’s work reflects the transitional aesthetics of the High Renaissance in Venice, where religious subjects were rendered with increasing naturalism and attention to light effects. The modest attire and simple setting align with contemporary devotional practices.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Bissolo (1470-72 - 20 April 1554) was a Venetian painter of the Renaissance.













