Artwork
Saint Rose of Viterbo
Saint Rose of Viterbo is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Alonso del Arco. It dates from 1675 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts Saint Rose of Viterbo, a religious figure portrayed by Alonso del Arco. The composition focuses on the saint holding a book, a specific attribute included in the visual representation. As a work of religious art, the painting presents the subject within a devotional context, emphasizing her identity and the textual element she carries.
Technique & Style
Saint Rose of Viterbo by Alonso del Arco is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Spanish Baroque panel-turned-canvas practice of the period.
Saint Rose of Viterbo by Alonso del Arco is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Spanish Baroque panel-turned-canvas practice of the period. The work is a religious painting in the Spanish Baroque tradition, depicting the saint alongside a book, an attribute consistent with her iconography.
The canvas measures 223 cm in height by 139 cm in width, giving it a pronounced vertical format suited to a full-length sacred figure. The large scale and upright proportions are characteristic of devotional altarpieces intended for chapel or church settings.
No further details regarding specific handling, brushwork, surface condition, or stylistic refinements are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting depicting Saint Rose of Viterbo was executed in 1675 by the artist Alonso del Arco. Created as a religious work, the piece utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. Historical records indicate that the artwork entered the collection of the Museo de la Trinidad prior to becoming part of the holdings at the Museo del Prado, where it is currently located.
The painting Saint Rose of Viterbo by Alonso del Arco is housed in the Museo del Prado under inventory number P00968. It was created in 1675 as an oil on canvas work measuring 223 cm by 139 cm. The artwork has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition and was included in the exhibition 'Spanish Masters from the Museum's Collection' in 1985.
Overview
Alonso del Arco’s oil on canvas, executed in 1675, portrays Saint Rose of Viterbo. The work is part of the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Measuring a modest size, the composition centers a contemplative female figure in a brown habit, illuminated against a dark backdrop, with symbolic objects and attendant figures surrounding her.
Context
The depiction aligns with Counter‑Reformation iconography that emphasized saintly piety and didactic symbolism. By featuring Saint Rose alongside a cross, a book, and floral motifs, the painting reflects contemporary devotional practices that sought to inspire contemplation and moral instruction among viewers.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
