Who painted Saint Ulrich of Augsburg?

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg was painted by Master of Messkirch in 1537.

Where can I see Saint Ulrich of Augsburg?

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Saint Ulrich of Augsburg?

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Artwork

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg

Master of Messkirch , 1537

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg is a wood painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Master of Messkirch. It dates from 1537 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Technique & Style

The figure is rendered with softly modulated light and restrained chiaroscuro, emphasizing volumetric form without pronounced textural detail.

The panel is executed in oil on softwood and measures 65.5 cm in height by 24.5 cm in width, a format consistent with devotional single-figure works of the period. Handling is characterized by smooth, blended modeling of the saint’s face and drapery, with delicate transitions in tone that suggest the Master of Messkirch’s adaptation of late Gothic refinement to early Renaissance naturalism. The figure is rendered with softly modulated light and restrained chiaroscuro, emphasizing volumetric form without pronounced textural detail. No specific condition report is provided in the cited sources; the painting’s state remains unaddressed.

History & Provenance

Saint Ulrich of Augsburg was created by the Master of Messkirch in 1537, executed on softwood as a religious panel painting. The work's documented ownership chain begins with Johann Baptist von Hirscher, after whom the Collection Hirscher is named. It subsequently passed into the Collection Abel, associated with Gustav Abel, and was later held by Michael Berolzheimer.

The painting is now part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek, with a documented location also recorded at St Martin.

The painting is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is on display at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. It forms part of the Collection Hirscher, which has been associated with the institution, and is also linked to the Collection Abel.

Recorded former owners include Johann Baptist von Hirscher, Gustav Abel, and Michael Berolzheimer, tracing the panel's provenance through successive private collections before its incorporation into the state holdings.

No specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.

Overview

Created in 1537 by the anonymous Master of Messkirch, this work portrays Saint Ulrich of Augsburg. Executed on a softwood panel, the image now belongs to the collection of the Alte Pinakothek. The composition centers on a solemn figure in ecclesiastical dress, holding a gilded staff and a book entwined by a black serpent, rendered in flat, vivid hues without pronounced chiaroscuro.

Subject & Meaning

The saint is shown in traditional clerical garb, his green outer robe trimmed with a white lining and a tall, pointed mitre accented by a red band. The golden staff signifies his episcopal authority, while the serpent coiled around the book references the hagiographic legend in which Ulrich triumphs over a poisonous creature, symbolising spiritual victory over evil.

Context

The depiction aligns with contemporary practices of venerating local saints through portable devotional images. Saint Ulrich, a 10th‑century bishop of Augsburg, was a popular intercessor in the region, and his iconography, particularly the serpent motif, was widely reproduced in liturgical objects and church frescoes of the period.