Who painted St. Lucy?

St. Lucy was painted by Jörg Breu the Elder.

Where can I see St. Lucy?

St. Lucy is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is St. Lucy?

St. Lucy is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

St. Lucy by Jörg Breu the Elder · Meaning & Museum

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work depicts Saint Lucy, a Christian martyr associated with light and the eyes, reflecting her legendary perseverance amid persecution.

St. Lucy is a religious painting by Jörg Breu the Elder created in 1614. The work depicts Saint Lucy, a Christian martyr associated with light and the eyes, reflecting her legendary perseverance amid persecution. It is housed in the Alte Pinakothek within the Bavarian State Painting Collections, emphasizing its significance in Bavarian religious art.

The iconography includes traditional attributes linked to Saint Lucy, reinforcing themes of faith and divine illumination. The painting’s composition and style align with early 17th-century religious works, showcasing Breu’s mastery of devotional subjects.

Measured at 116.2 cm in height and 34 cm in width, the piece is executed in paint on panel, characteristic of the period’s artistic practices.

Technique & Style

The painting St. Lucy by Jörg Breu the Elder was executed in 1614 using oil paint on a wooden panel. It measures 116.2 centimeters in height and 34 centimeters in width. The work depicts the saint in a devotional composition characteristic of early 17th-century religious painting, reflecting the stylistic conventions of the German Renaissance.

The support is a wooden panel, a traditional medium for altarpieces and devotional works of the period. The handling and condition of the painting are documented within the holdings of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains part of their permanent collection.

History & Provenance

St. Lucy is a religious painting created in 1614 by Jörg Breu the Elder. The work was painted for the Bavarian State Painting Collections and has been housed in the Alte Pinakothek since its creation. It depicts Saint Lucy and was executed using paint on panel, measuring 116.2 cm in height and 34 cm in width.

Overview

St. Lucy is a painting created in 1614 by Jörg Breu the Elder, a prominent figure of the German Danube school based in Augsburg. The work belongs to the religious genre and is characterized by the artistic fusion of German and Italian stylistic elements, reflecting the artist's travels to Italy.

Context

The painting reflects the religious and artistic currents of the early 17th century, specifically the intersection of German Danube school traditions with the emerging Baroque styles of Italy. It speaks to the period's emphasis on religious themes and the use of symbolism to convey moral and spiritual messages.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jörg Breu the Elder

Jörg Breu the Elder (c. 1475–1537), of Augsburg, was a painter of the German Danube school. He was the son of a weaver. He journeyed to Austria and created several multi-panel altarpieces there in 1500–02, such as the…