Artwork

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria, by Vincenzo Carducci, oil, 1626
Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria, by Vincenzo Carducci, oil, 1626

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Vincenzo Carducci. It dates from 1626 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Technique & Style

The work's substantial dimensions (over three meters in height) indicate a monumental treatment befitting its religious genre and intended public viewing.

The painting is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 337 cm in height by 298 cm in width. Its large scale suggests it was designed for a prominent architectural setting, typical of Baroque religious commissions. The medium of oil paint on canvas allows for rich color saturation and dramatic tonal contrasts, qualities that align with the theatrical narrative of the subject.

The work's substantial dimensions (over three meters in height) indicate a monumental treatment befitting its religious genre and intended public viewing.

History & Provenance

Vincenzo Carducci executed the oil painting Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria in 1626. The work was created on canvas and measures 337 cm in height by 298 cm in width. Historically, the painting entered the collection of the Museo de la Trinidad before becoming part of the holdings at the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains located.

Overview

Vincenzo Carducci, an Italian-born painter active in Spain, completed the oil on canvas work Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria in 1626. The painting belongs to the early Baroque period and is part of the Museo del Prado’s permanent collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a humble monk in a white habit kneeling before a heavily armored nobleman who wears a red mantle and holds a spear. A dog stands at the noble’s side, while a horse and additional figures appear in the distance, suggesting a narrative encounter between the saint and a secular authority.

Context

The work illustrates a legend concerning Saint Bruno, founder of the Carthusian Order, meeting a Sicilian count. Such subjects were popular in Counter‑Reformation art, serving both devotional and didactic purposes by highlighting the saint’s humility before worldly power.

Saint Bruno Prays in La Torre Calabria
Saint Bruno Prays in La Torre Calabria, Vincenzo Carducci

Artist & collection

Portrait of Vincenzo Carducci

Artist

Vincenzo Carducci

Vincenzio Carduccio (in Spanish, sometimes Vicencio or Vicente Carducho; 1576 or 1578–1638) was an Italian painter who spent his career in Spain.

Museo del Prado

Museum

Museo del Prado

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Museo del Prado open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria?

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria was painted by Vincenzo Carducci in 1626.

Where can I see Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria?

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria?

Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria?

Museum-quality prints of Saint Bruno Encounters the Count of Sicily and Calabria are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.