Artwork
Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis
Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Bartolomé Pérez. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The piece serves as a visual meditation on faith, combining the genre of still life with hagiographic portraiture to honor the religious figure.
This religious painting depicts Saint Camillus de Lellis, the founder of the Order of Clerics Regular, Ministers of the Sick. The work follows the iconographic tradition of flower garland paintings, where a central devotional image or figure is encircled by an elaborate wreath of blooms.
By placing the saint within this floral border, the composition elevates his spiritual significance, using the natural beauty of the flowers to symbolize divine creation and perhaps the virtues associated with the saint's life of service. The piece serves as a visual meditation on faith, combining the genre of still life with hagiographic portraiture to honor the religious figure.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 95 cm in height and 73 cm in width. It depicts Saint Camillus de Lellis within a floral setting, reflecting the religious genre characteristic of 17th-century Spanish art. The composition demonstrates a naturalistic handling of light and detail, particularly in the rendering of flowers and drapery, aligning with Baroque stylistic tendencies observed in contemporary religious paintings.
The work belongs to the corpus of Bartolomé Pérez, a Spanish painter active in the mid-1600s, and was created during the period of 1650–1651. Its material execution on canvas with oil paint supports its classification as a religious artwork within the Museo del Prado collection.
History & Provenance
The painting Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis was created by the Spanish artist Bartolomé Pérez. While some records indicate an inception date of 1650, other documentation suggests the work was completed on January 1, 1651. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece measures 95 cm in height and 73 cm in width.
It was originally part of the collection of the Museo de la Trinidad before becoming a holding of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The work depicts the religious figure Saint Camillus de Lellis within a floral garland, consistent with the religious art genre of the period.
The painting Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Historically, the work was also associated with the Museo de la Trinidad. The sources do not provide a specific inventory or accession number for the piece, nor do they list any exhibitions in which the artwork has been displayed.
Overview
Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis is an oil painting created by Spanish Baroque artist Bartolomé Pérez around 1650. The work combines a floral arrangement with a central portrait, characteristic of early Baroque Italian religious themes.
Context
Though Pérez is known for floral still lifes, this work reflects his capability in religious subjects, blending the naturalism of Baroque with the solemnity of religious portraiture.
Legacy
As part of the Prado's collection, Garland of Flowers with Saint Camillus de Lellis contributes to the museum's Baroque holdings, offering insight into Pérez's versatility beyond still-life painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Pérez de la Dehesa (1634 – 16 January 1693) was a Spanish painter of the Baroque period.
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