Artwork
Madonna del S. Gerolamo (Maria mit Kind, hll. Maria Magdalena, Hieronymus und Engeln)
Madonna del S. Gerolamo (Maria mit Kind, hll. Maria Magdalena, Hieronymus und Engeln) is an unspecified painting by Domenico Zanetti. It is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a sacred conversation grouping centered on the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, accompanied by Mary Magdalene, Saint Jerome, and angels.
The painting presents a sacred conversation grouping centered on the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, accompanied by Mary Magdalene, Saint Jerome, and angels. This configuration draws on the devotional tradition of the Sacra Conversazione, in which saints from different eras are gathered around the Madonna and Child in a unified sacred space rather than a narrative moment. The inclusion of Jerome, the Church Father traditionally associated with penitence, scholarship, and translation of the Bible, alongside Mary Magdalene, the model of contemplative repentance, frames the Christ Child as the object of veneration for two of Christianity's most prominent penitent saints.
Angels reinforce the heavenly dimension of the gathering. Classified as a religious work and held in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, the composition functions as a devotional image inviting contemplation of Christ's incarnation through the intercessory presence of the surrounding holy figures.
History & Provenance
The painting Madonna del S. Gerolamo by Domenico Zanetti is held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. It is currently located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work depicts religious figures including the Virgin Mary, Christ Child, Mary Magdalene, Saint Jerome, and angels.
No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available records. The sources do not contain details regarding any past or future exhibition history for this specific artwork.
Overview
Created around 1713, this religious canvas by Italian artist Domenico Zanetti presents a solemn assembly of holy figures. The composition centers on a swaddled infant, presumed to be the Christ Child, attended by a female figure and a male saint, all set against a darkened backdrop that heightens the sense of reverence.
Technique & Style
Zanetti employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark light to illuminate the faces and hands while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast not only models the figures in a near‑sculptural relief but also directs the viewer’s gaze toward the central interaction between mother and child.
Context
Produced during the late Baroque period, the painting reflects contemporary devotional trends that favored intimate, emotionally charged religious scenes. The inclusion of multiple saints aligns with Counter‑Reformation iconography, intended to inspire personal piety among viewers.
Artist & collection
