Artwork
Hl. Frankiskus von Assisi (Werkstatt)
Hl. Frankiskus von Assisi (Werkstatt) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pietro della Vecchia. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Executed in the early Baroque period by the Venetian painter Pietro della Vecchia, this work portrays Saint Francis of Assisi in a contemplative pose. The canvas belongs to the collection of the Alte Pinakothek, where it is displayed among other religious pieces from the same era.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is seated at a modest table, his hands joined in prayer, dressed in a dark habit secured by a simple rope. A skull and an open book rest before him, symbols of mortality and spiritual study that underscore Francis’s devotion to humility and reflection.
Technique & Style
Della Vecchia employs chiaroscuro to model the saint’s face, a light source from the right illuminating his features while casting a shadow across the left. This contrast creates a three‑dimensional presence, directing the viewer’s focus to the solemn expression and the delicate handling of the hands.
History & Provenance
Active between late Mannerism and the early Baroque, Pietro della Vecchia was noted for his versatility across genres, ranging from altarpieces to portraits and pastiches of earlier masters. The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings as part of its 19th‑century acquisitions of Italian Baroque works.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro della Vecchia, Pietro della Vècchia or Pietro Vècchia, formerly incorrectly called Pietro Muttoni (1603 – 8 September 1678) was a versatile Venetian artist between late Mannerism and early Baroque, who worked in…
