Artwork
Maria mit Kind und den hll. Sebastian und Katharina (zugeschrieben)
Maria mit Kind und den hll. Sebastian und Katharina (zugeschrieben) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Hans Rottenhammer. It dates from 1598 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. Created in 1598, this small‑scale oil painting is traditionally linked to the German artist Johann Rottenhammer.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1598, this small‑scale oil painting is traditionally linked to the German artist Johann Rottenhammer. It belongs to the early Baroque period and is presently housed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. The composition centers on the Virgin Mary seated on a cloud with the infant Christ, accompanied by two saints on either side.
Subject & Meaning
The work presents the Madonna and Child flanked by Saint Sebastian, identifiable by his martyr’s attire, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, recognizable by her dark robe and palm branch, a symbol of triumph. The juxtaposition of the suffering saint with the serene martyr underscores themes of intercession and spiritual victory within a devotional context.
Technique & Style
Rottenhammer employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated faces of the figures to emerge from a tenebrous backdrop filled with swirling forms and faint, hidden visages. The meticulous detailing of fabrics and the delicate rendering of the infant’s skin reflect the artist’s reputation for precision in miniature compositions.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Rottenhammer through stylistic analysis, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s collection as part of its early Baroque acquisitions. Its attribution remains scholarly, based on the artist’s known penchant for intricate, small‑format religious scenes produced at the close of the sixteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale.
