Artwork
Saint Hilary Surrounded by Angels (copy of the fresco in the cupola of Parma Cathedral)
Saint Hilary Surrounded by Angels (copy of the fresco in the cupola of Parma Cathedral) is a tempera painting by Antonio da Correggio. It dates from 1521 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Created around 1521, this tempera work reproduces the fresco that once adorned the dome of Parma Cathedral.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1521, this tempera work reproduces the fresco that once adorned the dome of Parma Cathedral. The composition shows a saint seated upon a cloud, encircled by a host of angels, against a luminous yellow backdrop that frames a shell‑like form behind the figure. The piece is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is Saint Hilary, identifiable by his white habit, yellow mantle, and the book and staff he holds, symbols of his theological authority and pastoral role. The surrounding angels emphasize his sanctity and divine endorsement, while the celestial setting underscores the saint’s heavenly intercession.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, the painting displays the fine brushwork and layered glazing typical of early sixteenth‑century Italian practice. The artist achieves depth through subtle modeling of the figures and a bright, contrasting background, while the delicate rendering of drapery and feathered wings reflects the influence of High Renaissance ideals of harmony and naturalism.
History & Provenance
The work is a copy of Correggio’s original fresco in the Parma Cathedral dome, made to disseminate the celebrated composition beyond its architectural setting. It entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings in the nineteenth century, where it has been preserved as an example of Renaissance devotional imagery reproduced for a broader audience.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Allegri da Correggio, usually known as just Correggio, was an Italian Renaissance painter who was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most…
The ascension of Saint Gennaro
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Saint Louis Bishop in Glory
Visión de San Bruno
Saints Presenting a Devout Woman to the Virgin and Child
The Virgin recommending a group of Saints to the Holy Trinity
The Apotheosis of St Zeno
The Trinity with the Virgin Mary and Musician Angels
The Immaculate Conception
La Purísima