Artwork
Hl. Franz von Sales
Hl. Franz von Sales is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Johann Georg Bergmüller. It dates from 1739 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Johann Georg Bergmüller painted this religious work in 1739. The canvas, now part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, presents a solemn figure identified as Saint Francis de Sales, surrounded by a host of attendant figures and symbolic elements.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre stands the saint, holding a book that alludes to his theological writings. Flanking him are cherubic figures and other attendants, suggesting divine inspiration and the saint’s role as a mediator between the sacred and the faithful.
Technique & Style
Bergmüller employs a classical compositional framework, rich in ornamental detail. The interplay of light and shadow creates a three‑dimensional effect, while the balanced arrangement of figures reflects the academic painting conventions of early‑18th‑century Bavaria.
History & Provenance
Created in 1739, the painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Baroque and Rococo holdings, illustrating the artist’s contribution to ecclesiastical art of the period.
Context
The work belongs to a broader tradition of devotional imagery that celebrated Counter‑Reformation saints. Bergmüller, active in the Bavarian court, often produced such compositions for churches and private patrons, integrating theological symbolism with the era’s aesthetic preferences.
Artist & collection
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