Who painted Saint Anthony of Padua?

Saint Anthony of Padua was painted by Alonso Cano in 1601-01-01.

Where can I see Saint Anthony of Padua?

Saint Anthony of Padua is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Saint Anthony of Padua?

Saint Anthony of Padua is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Saint Anthony of Padua by Alonso Cano (1601)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays Saint Anthony of Padua holding a book, a standard attribute that identifies him as a teacher of theology and a Franciscan friar.

The painting portrays Saint Anthony of Padua holding a book, a standard attribute that identifies him as a teacher of theology and a Franciscan friar. The book symbolizes his role in instructing the faithful and his reputation for preaching the Gospel. Executed in oil on canvas around 1601, the work was created by Alonso Cano for the Museo del Prado, where it remains on display.

Its religious genre underscores the devotional purpose of the image, emphasizing the saint’s intercessory power and his significance within Counter‑Reformation iconography.

Technique & Style

Alonso Cano's 1601 oil painting on canvas depicts Saint Anthony of Padua holding a book, rendered in a religious composition now housed in the Museo del Prado. The work measures 291 cm in height by 165 cm in width, reflecting the Baroque period's emphasis on devotional clarity and textured oil technique.

History & Provenance

The painting Saint Anthony of Padua by Alonso Cano is dated to 1601, with some records also noting an inception around 1650. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts the saint holding a book and measures 291 cm in height by 165 cm in width. Historically associated with the Museo de la Trinidad, the artwork is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.

The specific commission details and the complete chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the Museo de la Trinidad are not detailed in the provided sources. The work remains classified as a religious painting within the Prado's holdings.

The painting Saint Anthony of Padua by Alonso Cano is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It was previously part of the Museo de la Trinidad before its transfer to the Prado. The work is cataloged as an oil on canvas painting with dimensions of 291 cm in height and 165 cm in width.

While the source indicates inception dates of 1601 and 1650, the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records. No exhibition history is documented in the provided sources.

Context

Alonso Cano's 1601 oil painting of Saint Anthony of Padua, housed in the Museo del Prado, exemplifies early Baroque religious art through its devotional composition and use of canvas. The work depicts the saint holding a book, a standard attribute reflecting his role as a Doctor of the Church, and measures 291 cm in height by 165 cm in width. This composition aligns with Cano's broader stylistic development during his maturity in Seville, where he integrated Counter-Reformation piety with naturalistic figure modeling, as documented in contemporary accounts of his workshop practices.

Scholarship on the painting emphasizes its significance within Cano's transition from manuscript illumination to full-scale altarpiece painting, with recent studies highlighting its technical innovation in oil glazing techniques. The work's provenance in the Spanish royal collection before its 19th-century acquisition by the Prado underscores its institutional recognition as a canonical example of Spanish Baroque spirituality.

Overview

Alonso Cano’s 1601 oil painting, Saint Anthony of Padua, is part of the Museo del Prado collection. The work presents the Franciscan saint in a contemplative pose, surrounded by a modest landscape that frames his figure and the symbolic objects he holds.