Artwork
Santa Clara
Santa Clara is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Andrés López Polanco. It dates from 1608 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition functions as a devotional image intended to honor the saint's legacy and religious significance.
Executed in 1608, this religious painting portrays Clare of Assisi, the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies. The iconography centers on the saint holding a crosier, a staff that serves as a traditional attribute symbolizing her ecclesiastical authority and role as an abbess. By depicting Clare with this specific emblem, the work visually communicates her leadership within the Franciscan movement and her status as a revered spiritual figure. The composition functions as a devotional image intended to honor the saint's legacy and religious significance.
Technique & Style
Created in 1608, Santa Clara is an oil painting executed on a canvas support by Andrés López Polanco. The work measures 241 cm in height and 165 cm in width, presenting a large-scale religious composition. Stylistically, the piece depicts Saint Clare of Assisi holding a crosier, adhering to the conventions of religious art from the early 17th century.
The medium of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering of the saint and her attributes within the vertical format.
History & Provenance
Santa Clara is an oil painting on canvas by Andrés López Polanco, dated 1608. The work was produced in that year and entered the collection of the Museo de la Trinidad, from which it was later transferred to the Museo del Prado, where it is currently held.
No further details regarding a specific commission, patron, intermediate ownership, or acquisition circumstances are documented in the available sources.
The painting Santa Clara by Andrés López Polanco is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Historically, the work was also associated with the Museo de la Trinidad. Created in 1608, this oil on canvas depicts Saint Clare of Assisi holding a crosier. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or details regarding the artwork's exhibition history.
Overview
Andrés López Polanco’s oil on canvas, dated 1608, presents a solitary female figure identified as Saint Clare of Assisi. She stands before a darkened backdrop, illuminated by a focused light that highlights her austere habit and the ornate crosier she bears. The composition is restrained, emphasizing the saint’s contemplative presence within a muted, almost theatrical setting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Andrés López Polanco, was a Spanish Baroque painter specializing in portraits. Documented in Madrid between 1608 and 1641, he worked for the court of King Philip III of Spain and King Philip IV of Spain. His exact date of birth is unknown.
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