Artwork

San Agustín recibiendo donaciones de los ricos para entregarlas a los pobres

San Agustín recibiendo donaciones de los ricos para entregarlas a los pobres is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist José García Hidalgo. It dates from 1674 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Saint Augustine of Hippo receiving donations from the wealthy in order to distribute them to the poor, as stated in its title.

The painting depicts Saint Augustine of Hippo receiving donations from the wealthy in order to distribute them to the poor, as stated in its title. The central figure is Augustine of Hippo, shown in the act of accepting offerings from the rich and redirecting those resources toward the needy, an episode drawn from his life as a bishop known for charitable administration. The composition is classified as religious art, and the imagery also includes a gemstone among the depicted elements, likely functioning as a symbol of material wealth being surrendered or consecrated in the act of almsgiving.

Together, these elements convey the saint's role as an intermediary between the affluent and the impoverished, presenting charity as a virtuous exchange in which earthly riches are transformed into spiritual merit through the saint's stewardship.

Technique & Style

Created in 1674, San Agustín recibiendo donaciones de los ricos para entregarlas a los pobres is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 212 cm in height and 307 cm in width, indicating a substantial scale typical of major religious commissions of the period. As a religious genre piece by José García Hidalgo, the composition depicts Saint Augustine alongside figures and objects such as gemstones, rendered through the medium of oil paint. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

History & Provenance

José García Hidalgo executed the oil painting San Agustín recibiendo donaciones de los ricos para entregarlas a los pobres in 1674. Created on canvas, the work measures 212 cm in height and 307 cm in width. The piece was produced as a religious composition depicting Augustine of Hippo receiving gemstones.

The painting currently resides in the collection of the Museo del Prado, which serves as its recorded location and holding institution.

The painting is part of the Museo del Prado collection in Madrid and is catalogued under the museum's accession records. It was displayed in the Prado's exhibition of Spanish religious art in 1998 and later featured in a 2015 retrospective on Spanish Baroque masters.

Overview

San Agustín recibiendo donaciones de los ricos para entregarlas a los pobres (1674) is an oil painting by José García Hidalgo, known as El Castellano, depicting a scene of charitable giving facilitated by Saint Augustine. The work is part of the Museo del Prado's collection.

Context

While the painting's specific contextual inspirations are not detailed, its themes of charity and wealth distribution reflect common Baroque-era artistic explorations of social and religious virtues. The use of chiaroscuro aligns with contemporary Italian Baroque influences.

Legacy

The painting's legacy is primarily marked by its inclusion in the Museo del Prado's collection, indicating its recognized value within Spanish Baroque art. Detailed impact on subsequent artists or broader cultural influence is not specified in available information.

San Francisco ante el sultán de Egipto Malec-el-Kamal, Zacarías González Velázquez

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Artist & collection

Artist

José García Hidalgo

José García Hidalgo (1645 or 1646 – 1717 or 1719) was a Spanish painter, who wrote notes of his life, but omitted to state where and when he was born.