Study for "The Presentation of Christ in the Temple" (for Saint Ulrich, Vienna)
By Franz Anton Maulbertsch, c. 1750
Curatorial Notes
This loosely painted sketch is the preliminary design for an altarpiece in the Church of Saint Ulrich, Vienna. Mary and Joseph have brought the infant Jesus to the temple to be inducted into the Jewish faith; the aged priest Simeon cradles the infant in his arms, turning his gaze to heaven as he realizes that he is holding the Son of God. Strong contrasts of light and shadow underscore the drama of the moment. The frame is not original to this painting, but was made by an Austrian craftsman in the mid-1700s. Its florid style suits Maulbertsch’s flickering brushwork, and reflects the tradition of wood sculpture from Central Europe seen in other objects in the CMA's collection.
Alternative Titles
PT: Estudo para "A Apresentação de Cristo no Templo" (para Santo Ulrich, Viena)
ES: Estudio para "La presentación de Cristo en el templo" (para San Ulrico, Viena)
Artist Franz Anton Maulbertsch
Date c. 1750
Collection Cleveland Museum of Art ·
View on museum website ↗
