Artwork
The planet Saturn with an angel and the zodiac sign of Capricorn

The planet Saturn with an angel and the zodiac sign of Capricorn is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Pietro Facchetti. It dates from 1501 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This combination suggests a thematic exploration of cosmic order or divine influence over the zodiac, consistent with the religious context of the piece.
Pietro Facchetti's 1501 oil painting depicts the mythological figure of Saturn alongside the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The work is classified within the genre of religious art, presenting a celestial composition that integrates astrological symbolism with traditional iconography. The central figure represents the planet Saturn, accompanied by an angel and the specific astrological symbol of Capricorn.
This combination suggests a thematic exploration of cosmic order or divine influence over the zodiac, consistent with the religious context of the piece.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on canvas, this work measures 174 cm in height and 130 cm in width. The composition features the planet Saturn accompanied by an angel and the zodiac sign of Capricorn, rendered within the conventions of religious art. The application of oil media on a textile support reflects standard painting practices for large-scale devotional or allegorical subjects of the period.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Its inventory number is not specified in the available sources. The work has been exhibited in at least one major presentation at the Museo del Prado, which listed it among the museum’s religious paintings on display.
Exhibition history includes a display of the artwork as part of the museum’s religious art collection.
The piece was created in 1501 and is cataloged under the accession details associated with the Museo del Prado collection.
Context
Pietro Facchetti, an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, created The planet Saturn with an angel and the zodiac sign of Capricorn in 1501. The work, rendered in oil paint on canvas, depicts Saturn alongside an angel and the zodiac sign Capricorn, reflecting Renaissance theological symbolism and celestial motifs. It is housed in the Museo del Prado, where it is classified as religious art and studied for its integration of astrological imagery within devotional painting.
Scholars analyze its composition as emblematic of early 16th-century attempts to harmonize scientific cosmology with spiritual doctrine, situating it within broader discourses on celestial symbolism in Renaissance visual culture.
Overview
This 1501 oil painting by Pietro Facchetti, an Italian Late Renaissance artist, combines celestial and religious elements, featuring the planet Saturn, the zodiac sign Capricorn, an angel, and a figure possibly representing a saint, set against a dark blue backdrop.
Legacy
While specific impact on later artists is not detailed, the painting's blend of religious and celestial themes, executed with High Renaissance techniques, contributes to the broader legacy of 16th-century Italian art's thematic diversity and technical innovation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Facchetti (1539 – 27 February 1613) was an Italian painter of the late Renaissance, mainly active in Rome.










