Artwork
Hl. Karl Borromäus
Hl. Karl Borromäus is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini painted the work titled *Hl. Karl Borromäus* in 1708. Executed during the early Rococo era, the canvas now resides in the Alte Pinakothek. The composition centers on a solemn figure in dark attire, illuminated by a subtle light from the right, creating a restrained, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The seated figure, identified as Saint Charles Borromeo, is shown in a black robe with white sleeves, clutching a staff in his right hand and a book in his left. A diminutive cherub, holding a scepter, hovers behind him, suggesting divine support and the saint’s ecclesiastical authority. The quiet pose and the presence of the book emphasize his role as a scholar and reformer.
Technique & Style
Pellegrini employs chiaroscuro to model the drapery and flesh, allowing the dark background to recede while the illuminated edges draw attention to the central figure. The handling of fabric folds reflects a synthesis of late Renaissance precision and Baroque dynamism, characteristic of the artist’s Venetian training.
History & Provenance
Created while Pellegrini was active on major commissions across Europe, the painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the early 18th‑century patronage that favored religious subjects for private devotion and public display.
Context
The work belongs to a period when Venetian painters were integrating the grandeur of the Baroque with the emerging lightness of Rococo. Pellegrini’s career exemplifies this transition, as he combined rigorous compositional structures with a softer, more intimate treatment of sacred themes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini (29 April 1675 – 2 or 5 November 1741) was one of the leading Venetian history painters of the early 18th century.
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