Artwork
The Holy Trinity with St Philip Neri in Glory
The Holy Trinity with St Philip Neri in Glory is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Solimena. It dates from 1728 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1728, this oil painting by Francesco Solimena portrays a celestial gathering centered on the Holy Trinity. A towering cross dominates the composition, supported by a figure, while angels and saints encircle it amid luminous clouds. A kneeling figure in white and black gazes upward, embodying devotion within a radiant, reverent atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work visualizes the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, with the cross symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice. The inclusion of Saint Philip Neri, identifiable by his distinctive habit, underscores the painting’s devotional purpose, inviting viewers to contemplate divine mystery and intercession through the saint’s pious example.
Technique & Style
Solimena employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting deep shadows with bright, heavenly light to model forms and heighten drama. The composition reflects a transition from the exuberant Baroque of his mentors toward a more measured classicism, while retaining Rococo’s elegant fluidity in the arrangement of angels and the soft rendering of clouds.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Ashmolean Museum’s collection, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s commitment to representing Italian Baroque art and provides a rare example of Solimena’s later, more restrained period within a public institution.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Solimena (4 October 1657 – 3 April 1747) was a prolific Italian Baroque painter, one of an established family of painters and draughtsmen.
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