Artwork
Maria mit Kind, hl. Sebastian und Antonius
Maria mit Kind, hl. Sebastian und Antonius is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Francesco Francia. It dates from 1492 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The grouping centers the sacred family while positioning the martyr and ascetic in dialogue, suggesting intercession and protection.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child flanked by two male saints. On the left stands Saint Sebastian, identifiable by the arrows piercing his flesh, a reference to his martyrdom. To the right is Anthony the Great, distinguished by his monastic habit and tau-shaped staff, symbols tied to his eremitic life and role as father of monasticism.
The grouping centers the sacred family while positioning the martyr and ascetic in dialogue, suggesting intercession and protection. The composition’s balance reflects fifteenth-century devotional conventions, merging narrative clarity with hieratic presence.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1483 by Francesco Francia for a religious context, depicting Saint Sebastian, Saint Anthony, the Virgin Mary, and the Christ Child. It was acquired by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been part of the Alte Pinakothek's holdings since its inception.
The work measures 71.7 cm in height and 55.7 cm in width.
The painting has been in the Bavarian State Painting Collections (Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen), and is on view at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its dimensions are 71.7 cm in height by 55.7 cm in width. Dated to 1483, the work is catalogued as a religious painting by Francesco Francia depicting the Virgin and Child with Saints Sebastian and Anthony.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and the documented provenance does not include earlier ownerships or prior exhibition venues beyond its current placement in the Alte Pinakothek.
Overview
Francesco Francia, a Bolognese artist active in the late 15th century, produced the panel Maria mit Kind, hl. Sebastian und Antonius in 1492. Executed during the early Renaissance, the work presents a devotional grouping of the Virgin and Child together with two saints, rendered in a calm, intimate setting. The painting now belongs to the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.
Technique & Style
Francia employs a restrained palette, allowing the Virgin’s blue mantle and the child’s exposed skin to stand out against a subdued backdrop. Careful modeling of fabric folds creates a tactile sense of volume, while subtle chiaroscuro gives the figures a three‑dimensional presence. The overall effect balances delicate detail with the harmonious simplicity characteristic of early Renaissance painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Francia, whose real name was Francesco Raibolini (1447 – 5 January 1517), was an Italian painter, goldsmith, and medallist from Bologna, who was also director of the city mint.
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