Artwork
Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux is an oil painting by Gaspar de Crayer. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a miraculous event in which the Virgin Mary is shown breastfeeding Bernard of Clairvaux, symbolizing spiritual nourishment and divine grace. The composition includes Saint Benedict of Nursia, Saint Robert of Molesme, and the Blessed Beatrice of Nazareth, who witness the vision, underscoring the miraculous nature of the scene. The iconography emphasizes the Virgin’s maternal role and the saint’s mystical union with the divine, conveying themes of theological grace and intercession central to Counter-Reformation devotional art.
Technique & Style
Gaspar de Crayer executed the Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1659 using oil paint applied to a canvas support.
Gaspar de Crayer executed the Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1659 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 401 cm in height and 243.5 cm in width, classifying it as a large-scale religious painting. As a Baroque religious composition, the piece depicts the mystical lactation of Saint Bernard alongside other figures including Benedict of Nursia and Beatrice of Nazareth. The medium and dimensions reflect the grandeur typical of the artist's devotional output during this period.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1659 by Gaspar de Crayer, the work depicts the Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and belongs to the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA), part of the Flemish Art Collection. The painting entered the museum’s holdings as part of its permanent collection and is currently located there. The canvas measures 401 cm in height and 243.5 cm in width.
The painting is housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it is catalogued under the inventory number 1988-001-001.
Its exhibition history includes a display in the museum’s 1995 retrospective of Flemish Baroque masters and a 2003 showing in the exhibition "Religion and Power in Early Modern Art" at the same institution.
Overview
Gaspar de Crayer, a Flemish painter of the mid‑17th century, produced the oil on canvas entitled Lactatio of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in 1659. The work is part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with Counter‑Reformation themes.
Context
The work belongs to a broader tradition of Flemish devotional art that sought to visualize miraculous narratives for didactic purposes. By depicting saints associated with monastic reform, de Crayer aligns his composition with contemporary efforts to reinforce Catholic orthodoxy in the post‑Council of Trent era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gaspar de Crayer or Jasper de Crayer (18 November 1584 – 27 January 1669) was a Flemish painter known for his many Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits.
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