Artwork
Susannah and the Elders
Susannah and the Elders is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini’s oil painting *Susannah and the Elders* was completed in 1709. Executed in the early‑18th‑century Rococo idiom, the work is part of the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection. It presents a biblical episode in which a young woman is confronted by three older men, set against an open sky and a modest landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition draws on the story from the Book of Daniel, where Susannah is accosted by two elders while bathing. In Pellegrini’s version, the woman, partially veiled in white, raises her right arm in a defensive posture, emphasizing her vulnerability and moral resolve. The elders, rendered with white beards and robes, embody the corrupt authority that threatens her innocence.
Technique & Style
Pellegrini employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and give them a three‑dimensional presence.
Pellegrini employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using contrasts of light and shadow to model the figures and give them a three‑dimensional presence. The luminous white of the woman’s cloth stands out against a muted sky dotted with clouds, while the deepening shadows on the elders’ faces create a dramatic tension. The brushwork reflects a blend of Renaissance compositional balance and Baroque dynamism, characteristic of his transitional style.
History & Provenance
Born in Venice, Pellegrini was a sought‑after history painter whose career took him across Europe, securing commissions in several courts. After its creation, the painting entered private hands before being acquired by the National Gallery of Ireland, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces a typical 18th‑century trajectory from aristocratic collection to public institution.
Context
The early 1700s saw a shift from the grandeur of the High Baroque toward the lighter, more decorative Rococo. Pellegrini’s work reflects this transition, retaining the narrative seriousness of history painting while adopting a softer palette and elegant gestures. The biblical theme aligns with the period’s moralizing subjects, often used to convey virtues of chastity and integrity.
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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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