Artwork
Der heilige Martin
Der heilige Martin is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Martin Johann Schmidt. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1772, *Der heilige Martin* is an oil painting by Austrian artist Martin Johann Schmidt, often referred to as Kremser Schmidt. Executed during the late Baroque and Rococo period, the work is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection. It presents a religious tableau centered on a bishop, rendered with the decorative elegance typical of Schmidt’s ecclesiastical commissions.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a bishop clad in white and gold vestments, his right hand gripping a staff, illuminated by a radiant halo. An angel hovers above him, while a kneeling figure gazes upward with reverent awe. Additional figures gather around the bishop, reinforcing the theme of devotional veneration and the saint’s spiritual authority.
Technique & Style
Schmidt employs the fluid brushwork and luminous palette characteristic of Rococo painting, balancing intricate detailing with a light, airy atmosphere. The use of oil allows for rich coloration and subtle gradations of light, especially evident in the glowing halo and the delicate rendering of the angelic figure.
History & Provenance
Born in 1718, Schmidt was a prolific decorator of churches and monasteries in Lower Austria, particularly in Stein. *Der heilige Martin* remained in private or ecclesiastical hands before entering the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is now displayed as part of the museum’s Baroque and Rococo holdings.
Context
The work reflects the late Baroque transition toward Rococo’s ornamental grace, a period when Austrian religious art emphasized emotive expression and visual splendor. Schmidt’s reputation as a leading regional painter of sacred subjects situates the painting within a broader tradition of ecclesiastical decoration that shaped the visual culture of 18th‑century Austria.
Artist & collection
Artist
Martin Johann Schmidt, called Kremser Schmidt or Kremserschmidt, (25 September 1718 – 28 June 1801), was one of the outstanding Austrian painters of the late Baroque/Rococo along with Franz Anton Maulbertsch.
Sacrifice of Isaac
Coronation of the Virgin with Saint John the baptist
Triumph of St Norbert
Scenes from the Life of Saint Arianus
Die Fürbitte des Heiligen Gregor für die Seelen im Fegefeuer
Joachim's Sacrifice, reverse: Saint Joseph with the Christ Child
Pope St Clement Adoring the Trinity
Madonna mit Heiligen
Adoration of Virgin Mary by St. Petronius and Dionysius the Areopagite
Christ in Glory with Saints Celsus, Julian, Marcionilla and Basilissa
Madonna and Child with Saints Sebastian, Paul and Martha (Acceptance of Saint Sebastian Into the Group of Holy Martyrs)
Madonna and Child Appearing to Saint Philip Neri