(Brescia 1484/87–1560)
Saint Paul,
oil on panel, 58 x 53 cm, framed

Literature:
A. Nova, Girolamo Romanino, Turin 1994, p. 357, ill. 263.

The panel shows Saint Paul supported by his sword in simple architectural surroundings. The painting displays a lively and radiant colouring, the clear composition, and the posture of the apostle, head sunk in thought, expressing his introspective and intellectual nature. The format and surroundings suggest that the panel may have been part of the upper series of paintings in a polyptych. The painting is comparable to the polyptych of the Birth of Christ with Saint Alexander, Hieronymus, Gaudenz and the Blessed Felice Servita which is dated 1525 (London, National Gallery) and was originally painted for the church of Sant’ Alessandro in Brescia. Stylistically, the figure of Saint Paul demonstrates great similarity to the Blessed Felice noted above, and it is probable that the painting dates to the period around 1525. The execution of the slender, delicate fingers and facial expression on the face are also reminiscent of Romanino’s Ecce Homo (Hannover, Landesgalerie Lower Saxony) which dates to 1550.

Romanino received his artistic training between Brescia and Venice and was initially influenced by the works of Giorgione. He painted numerous panels and frescoes in Lombardy and the Veneto for churches and as well as private commissions. His works are characterised by the use of Venetian colouring in the style of Titian, with models and figures more typical for Florence and Lombardy painting.