Artwork
Heimkehr Jacobs (Kopie nach)

Heimkehr Jacobs (Kopie nach) is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pietro da Cortona. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1632, Heimkehr Jacobs (Kopie nach) is an oil painting by the Italian Baroque artist Pietro da Cortona, born Pietro Berrettini.
Created in 1632, Heimkehr Jacobs (Kopie nach) is an oil painting by the Italian Baroque artist Pietro da Cortona, born Pietro Berrettini. The work belongs to the early phase of the Baroque movement and is currently part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Its composition presents a group of figures set within an open landscape, rendered with the dramatic vigor typical of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas depicts a gathering of men, women, and children in a pastoral setting. Some figures are seated, others stand or lean against one another, while their gazes alternate between each other and the distant horizon. The arrangement suggests a moment of communal repose, conveying a tranquil atmosphere that contrasts with the more theatrical narratives often associated with Baroque art.
Technique & Style
Cortona employs a palette that balances deep, shadowed tones with lighter, sunlit areas, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that models the bodies and suggests depth. The figures are posed dynamically, yet the overall composition maintains a measured calm. The handling of light and the fluidity of the brushwork reflect the artist’s experience with large-scale frescoes, translating that sense of movement onto a smaller panel.
History & Provenance
After its execution in Rome, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been displayed since the museum’s early acquisitions of Baroque works. Its attribution to Cortona aligns with his known output during the 1630s, a period when he was establishing his reputation alongside contemporaries such as Bernini and Borromini.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro da Cortona (Italian:; 1 November 1596 or 1597 – 16 May 1669) was an Italian Baroque painter and architect.

















