Artwork
Saint Augustine meditating on the Trinity
Saint Augustine meditating on the Trinity is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Guercino. It dates from 1636 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a religious painting, the piece illustrates the moment of spiritual insight where the saint grapples with the concept of the triune God.
The work depicts Saint Augustine of Hippo engaged in religious contemplation, specifically meditating on the Trinity. Visual elements include the saint alongside a child, who traditionally symbolizes the divine mystery or the Holy Spirit in this context. The composition also features a book and office supplies, representing the scholar's tools and his theological writings.
As a religious painting, the piece illustrates the moment of spiritual insight where the saint grapples with the concept of the triune God.
Technique & Style
Saint Augustine meditating on the Trinity is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for Guercino's large-scale religious commissions of the 1630s. The painting measures 185 cm in height by 166 cm in width, a substantial vertical format suited to its devotional subject. Stylistically, the work belongs to Guercino's mature religious production of 1636, characterized by a naturalistic handling of figures and a contemplative, meditative mood appropriate to its depiction of Augustine of Hippo absorbed in theological reflection.
The canvas is held in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it has been preserved within the Spanish royal collection.
History & Provenance
Guercino completed the oil painting Saint Augustine meditating on the Trinity in 1636. The work entered the Spanish royal collection, where it was successively owned by Elisabeth Farnese, King Charles III, and King Ferdinand VII. Today, the canvas is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Historical records indicate the work was previously owned by Elisabeth Farnese, Charles III of Spain, and Ferdinand VII of Spain. The provided sources do not contain specific inventory numbers or a list of public exhibitions for this artwork.
Overview
Guercino’s 1636 oil on canvas, Saint Augustine meditating on the Trinity, presents the 4th‑century theologian in a contemplative pose. The painting is executed in the early Baroque idiom, marked by dramatic lighting and a restrained, classical composition that reflects the artist’s mature period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
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