Artwork
adorazione del bambino
adorazione del bambino is a wood painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pietro Perugino. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Pietro Perugino's Adorazione del bambino, executed in 1500, is a religious painting centered on the biblical scene of the Adoration of the Christ Child.
Pietro Perugino's Adorazione del bambino, executed in 1500, is a religious painting centered on the biblical scene of the Adoration of the Christ Child. As a work of religious art, the composition focuses on the veneration of the infant Jesus. Uniquely, the iconography includes the depiction of Augustine of Hippo, a specific saint integrated into the narrative of the adoration.
The presence of this theologian alongside the holy family suggests a thematic connection between the incarnation and Augustinian theology, enriching the spiritual meaning of the scene beyond a standard nativity depiction.
Technique & Style
The Adoration of the Child is executed in oil on poplar wood, measuring 203 × 157.5 cm. The support is a substantial wooden panel, consistent with Italian Renaissance altarpiece practice. The painting depicts a religious scene featuring Augustine of Hippo in a devotional context typical of Perugino's mature period around 1500. The work exemplifies the artist's characteristic serene compositions and refined figure style.
History & Provenance
The Adoration of the Child by Pietro Perugino belongs to the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. According to the painting's catalogue record, it is held in storage rather than on permanent display, listed among the locations of the Bavarian State Painting Collections with works not on view.
The panel, executed on poplar wood in 1500, is inventoried within the Alte Pinakothek's holdings of Perugino's religious works. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or prior exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created circa 1500, Pietro Perugino’s Adorazione del bambino is a tempera painting on poplar panel. The work measures modest dimensions and is framed in an ornate gold border bearing Latin inscription. It is presently displayed in the Alte Pinakothek, Munich, representing an early‑Renaissance approach to sacred narrative.
Context
Perugino, a leading figure of the Umbrian school, contributed to the development of balanced compositions and tranquil figuration that would influence the High Renaissance. His workshop trained artists such as Raphael, who inherited this calm, harmonious style. Adorazione del bambino exemplifies the transitional aesthetics between the late Gothic devotional panel and the emerging naturalism of the Renaissance.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro Perugino (US: PERR-ə-JEE-noh, -oo-; Italian:; born Pietro Vannucci or Pietro Vanucci; c.
The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene
Madonna and Child
Portrait of Lorenzo di Credi![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [right panel], by Pietro Perugino](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pietro-perugino--the-crucifixion-with-the-virgin-saint-john-saint-jerome-and--7d9a2b1f47b9fc9b-w320.webp)
The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [right panel]
Saint John the Baptist; Saint Lucy
The Resurrection![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [left panel], by Pietro Perugino](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pietro-perugino--the-crucifixion-with-the-virgin-saint-john-saint-jerome-and--1017dec17318baa5-w320.webp)
The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [left panel]![The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [middle panel], by Pietro Perugino](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pietro-perugino--the-crucifixion-with-the-virgin-saint-john-saint-jerome-and--a9b4c312771e3f71-w320.webp)
The Crucifixion with the Virgin, Saint John, Saint Jerome, and Saint Mary Magdalene [middle panel]
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Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and a Sheep
Thronende Maria mit d. Kind und den Heiligen Johannes dem Täufer und Katharina von Alexandrien
Virgin and Child, with Saints Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist, Jerome, and Catherine of Alexandria
The Holy Family with Tobias and the Angel, Sts. Dorothy, and Infant John the Baptist
Die Heilige Familie mit Elisabeth, Anna und dem Johannesknaben
Madonna with Child and Saints
Madonna and Child and an Angel
Madonna mit Kind
Die Heilige Famillie
Trinity, the Virgin, and Two Saints
The Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist