Artwork
Virgin with child and saints Maria Magdalen, Cecilia, Dorothea, Catharina and Augustine
Virgin with child and saints Maria Magdalen, Cecilia, Dorothea, Catharina and Augustine is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gaspar de Crayer. It dates from 1638 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The grouping underscores the intercessory role of Mary and the collective witness of the saints to Christian virtues such as faith, martyrdom, and wisdom.
The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, surrounded by Saints Augustine, Mary Magdalene, Dorothea of Caesarea, Catherine of Alexandria, and Cecilia. As a religious work dated 1638, it likely served a devotional purpose, presenting the Virgin as heavenly queen amid a choir of venerated saints. The grouping underscores the intercessory role of Mary and the collective witness of the saints to Christian virtues such as faith, martyrdom, and wisdom.
By placing the holy family within this celestial entourage, the image invites contemplation of divine grace and the communion of heaven.
History & Provenance
The painting Virgin with child and saints Maria Magdalen, Cecilia, Dorothea, Catharina and Augustine was created by Gaspar de Crayer in 1638. Executed in oil on canvas, it measures 279 cm in height and 201 cm in width and falls within the religious genre. Documentation places the work in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it has been recorded since its execution.
The date 1638 is explicitly cited in contemporary records, confirming both the creation period and the artist’s authorship.
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains part of the institution's holdings.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented for the work.
Overview
Gaspar de Crayer's 1638 oil painting, Virgin with Child and Saints, exemplifies the Flemish Baroque style of the 17th century. This large-scale work presents a traditional religious subject, depicting the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child surrounded by several venerated figures. The piece reflects de Crayer's prominence as a painter during this period, known for his significant contributions to altarpieces. It is currently housed in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Technique & Style
De Crayer employed oil paint to create a rich, dramatic effect characteristic of the Flemish Baroque. The artist utilized strong contrasts between light and shadow, highlighting the faces and hands of the figures to achieve a sense of three-dimensionality. Vivid reds and blues in the drapery stand out against a darker background, drawing the viewer's gaze to the central figures. This approach reflects the influence of Peter Paul Rubens, whose dynamic style de Crayer helped disseminate.
Context
As a leading painter in 17th-century Flanders, Gaspar de Crayer held the esteemed position of court painter to the governors of the Southern Netherlands. His artistic output, including numerous altarpieces like this one, played a crucial role in the Counter-Reformation movement. De Crayer's work helped visually articulate the Catholic Church's renewed emphasis on devotional imagery, making him a significant figure in the religious art of his era.
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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