Who painted Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel?

Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel was painted by Urban Goertschacher in 1508.

Where can I see Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel?

Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel is held by Kunsthistorisches Museum.

What movement is Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel?

Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel

Urban Goertschacher , 1508

Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel is an unspecified painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Urban Goertschacher. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

About this work

Overview

Urban Goertschacher’s 1508 oil painting, titled *Der zwölfjährige Jesus im Tempel*, is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The work portrays a biblical episode in which a youthful Jesus is shown within a temple setting, surrounded by adult figures.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a young boy, identified as Jesus, clothed in white and cradling an infant. He is encircled by a group of onlookers whose garments range from vivid reds and yellows to calmer blues, suggesting a gathering of witnesses to a sacred moment, likely the presentation of the child in the temple.

Technique & Style

Goertschacher employs a layered palette that juxtaposes bright foreground tones with more subdued background hues. The stone archway, framed by a green curtain, and the architectural elements with windows and a doorway, are rendered with careful modeling, giving the scene depth and a sense of interior space.

History & Provenance

Created in the early sixteenth century, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition is not extensively documented, but it reflects the period’s devotional art trends in Central Europe.

Context

The work belongs to a tradition of Northern Renaissance religious paintings that emphasize narrative detail and color contrast. By depicting a youthful Christ within a temple interior, Goertschacher aligns with contemporary theological interests in the early life of Jesus.