St. Joseph

Identifier
DZIELO/05102
Category
Picture
Amount
1
Catalogue note author
Justyna Kuska

Abstract

Painting of Saint Joseph and the Child in the side altar of the same name is the work of an unknown Lesser Poland painter, consistent with the convention of Baroque religious painting. The painting was probably made in the first half of the 18th century and although it is probably a work contemporary to the altar of Saint Joseph, it was not originally intended for it. As the analysis of the work (carried out during the restoration work) has shown, the painting was originally larger, and was cropped and adapted to the dimensions of the opening in the altar at an unspecified time. Perhaps this happened in the mid-19th century as a result of work on the renovation of the altar, carried out by the painter and gilder, Wojciech Dembowski. Saint Joseph was depicted in accordance with the traditional iconography of this figure – as a mature man with the Child in his arms, to emphasise his role as the protector of Jesus. The traditional attribute of this figure is also the white lily flower, which refers to the Joseph's chastity. In the discussed painting, a lily appears in the lower left corner of the composition in the hand of one of the angels surrounding the saint.

Persons related to work

How to cite?

Justyna Kuska, "St. Joseph", [in:] "The Sacred Lesser Poland Heritage", 2024, source:  https://sdm.upjp2.edu.pl/en/works/st-joseph

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