Artwork
Saint Margaret
Saint Margaret is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1574 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The oil painting portrays a woman clad in a vivid red dress over a white shirt, her right arm lifted and her left hand gripping a staff.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Margaret the Virgin, a Christian saint venerated for her steadfast faith and legendary triumph over evil.
The painting depicts Margaret the Virgin, a Christian saint venerated for her steadfast faith and legendary triumph over evil. The work is classified as religious art and draws on the iconographic tradition of Saint Margaret and the Dragon, a subject that dramatizes the saint's miraculous victory over a demonic serpent, symbolizing the spiritual conquest of sin and the protective power of faith. By presenting Margaret as its central figure, the painting functions as a devotional image, inviting contemplation of her purity, courage, and role as an intercessor for the faithful.
Rendered in oil on canvas and dated 1574, the composition belongs to a long visual tradition in which Margaret is shown as a virtuous young woman, often with attributes referencing her dragon legend, embodying ideals of chastity and divine deliverance.
Technique & Style
The painting was created in 1574 using oil paint on canvas, as documented by the source. It belongs to the religious art genre and depicts Margaret the Virgin, reflecting the composition 'Saint Margaret and the Dragon' described in the source. The work measures 116 cm in height and 91 cm in width, characteristic of a large-scale religious painting from the late 16th century.
History & Provenance
Created in 1574 as an oil painting on canvas, this work portrays Margaret the Virgin within the broader context of the Saint Margaret and the Dragon narrative. It belongs to the religious genre and was produced by the workshop of Titian, reflecting the stylistic influence of the master. The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains housed today. Its dimensions measure 116 centimeters in height and 91 centimeters in width.
The work's creation history is anchored to the year 1574, with its subject drawn from the legendary account of Saint Margaret's confrontation with a dragon. Following its completion, the piece entered the holdings of the Museo del Prado, establishing a continuous ownership chain from workshop production to institutional acquisition.
The painting is held in the permanent collection of the Museo del Prado, where it is catalogued under the inventory accession P02936. Its location is confirmed within the museum's holdings, and the work is classified as a religious oil painting on canvas depicting Margaret the Virgin.
The painting was produced in 1574, attributed to the workshop of Titian, and entered the Prado's collection as part of the institution's holdings of works from that workshop. No additional exhibition history beyond its residence at the Prado is documented in the available sources.
Overview
The oil painting portrays a woman clad in a vivid red dress over a white shirt, her right arm lifted and her left hand gripping a staff. She stands before a dark backdrop, a dragon coiled at her feet, her expression conveying resolve. The work identifies the figure as Saint Margaret, a Christian martyr, rendered with a dramatic contrast of light and shadow.
Context
While the artist is not named, the composition aligns with the visual language of Titian’s circle, where vivid coloration and dynamic poses were employed to convey saintly vigor. The inclusion of the dragon, a common attribute of Margaret’s legend, situates the work within the broader tradition of hagiographic art intended for devotional contemplation.
Artist & collection
