Artwork
Sibylla Cumaea
Sibylla Cumaea is an unspecified painting by Hermann tom Ring. It dates from 1568 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1568 by the German painter Hermann tom Ring (1521–1596), this portrait is part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection. It presents a seated woman in a domestic interior, rendered with the careful observation characteristic of Northern Renaissance portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter wears a white headscarf, a dark gown, and a white shawl draped over her shoulders, holding an open book in both hands. A bowl of fruit rests on the table before her, suggesting themes of learning and abundance that were common in portraiture intended for a formal or devotional setting.
Technique & Style
Ring employs a fine, layered brushwork to render textures—from the sheen of the silk shawl to the polished surface of the fruit. The composition balances figure and still‑life, while the interior setting with windows and classical columns reflects the influence of Italianate architecture on German Renaissance art.
History & Provenance
The painting has remained in German collections since its creation, eventually entering the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its attribution to Hermann tom Ring is based on stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to his workshop in the latter half of the 16th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Hermann tom Ring (German pronunciation: ; 2 January 1521 in Münster – 18 October 1596 in Münster), was a German Renaissance painter.
