Artwork
Jephta erblickt seine Tochter
Jephta erblickt seine Tochter is an unspecified painting by Giovanni Francesco Romanelli. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli, an Italian painter active in the mid‑17th century, executed the canvas titled *Jephta erblickt seine Tochter* circa 1646. The work belongs to the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Rendered in the Baroque idiom, it portrays a dramatic biblical moment with a group of figures arranged before monumental columns.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the Old Testament narrative in which the judge Jephta confronts his daughter after a vow that leads to tragedy. Central to the composition is a man in a red cloak and helmet, gesturing outward, while a woman in a blue dress—presumably the daughter—holds a mirror, emphasizing themes of fate, sacrifice and revelation.
Technique & Style
Romanelli employs vivid, saturated pigments characteristic of Baroque coloration, allowing the red and blue garments to dominate the visual field. Precise delineation of architectural elements and the crisp rendering of fabrics reflect his reputation for clear detail. The composition balances dynamic gestures with a structured, columned backdrop, creating a sense of theatrical immediacy.
History & Provenance
Born in Viterbo in 1610, Romanelli worked for papal and aristocratic patrons before his death in 1662.
Born in Viterbo in 1610, Romanelli worked for papal and aristocratic patrons before his death in 1662. *Jephta erblickt seine Tochter* entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s holdings during the 19th‑century acquisitions that expanded the museum’s Baroque collection. The painting has remained in the museum’s permanent display, contributing to the broader representation of Romanelli’s oeuvre alongside works held in the Louvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (Viterbo, 1610 – Viterbo, 9 November 1662) was a major Italian painter of the Baroque period, celebrated for his use of bright, vivid colors and also for his clarity of detail.
Camillus and the Schoolmaster of Falerii
Rape of the Sabines
Caesar Giving Cleopatra the Throne of Egypt
La prudente Abigail
Killer of Darius before Alexander (King Porus and Alexander the Great)
Rape of the Sabine Women
Jephthah returning from Battle is greeted by his Daughter
A historical scene
David Meeting Abigail
Dido and Aeneas
The Empress Marta de Constantinople before Alfonso X. Ramón Bayeu and Subías
Fiestas Lupercales