Artwork
St Joachim Reading a Book
St Joachim Reading a Book is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Michaelina Wautier. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Michaelina Wautier painted a quiet scene called *St Joachim Reading a Book* in the 1650s.
Michaelina Wautier painted a quiet scene called *St Joachim Reading a Book* in the 1650s. The oil paint sits in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna today. The work traveled there in 1656 with a big batch of art moved from Brussels.
Wautier was a Flemish artist who rarely gets the spotlight. Most male painters dominated the scene back then. She still made strong work—this one shows Joachim absorbed in a book.
Check out another painting by Michaelina Wautier.
Overview
St Joachim Reading a Book is an oil painting created by Flemish artist Michaelina Wautier in the 1650s, now housed at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Saint Joachim in a contemplative state, deeply engaged with a book, conveying a sense of quiet introspection and devotion.
Technique & Style
While specific technical details of the painting are not highlighted, Wautier's use of oil paint in this work aligns with the predominant medium of her time, suggesting a level of craftsmanship typical of Flemish artists.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection as part of Archduke Leopold of Austria's collection, relocated from Brussels to the Stallburg in 1656.
Context
Created in a period dominated by male artists, St Joachim Reading a Book stands as a notable work by Michaelina Wautier, highlighting her ability to produce impactful pieces amidst a predominantly male-dominated art scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michaelina Wautier, also Woutiers (c. 1614–1689), was a painter from the Southern Netherlands. Only since the start of the 21st century has her work been recognized as that of the outstanding female artist of Flemish…
