Study for The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (for Saint Ulrich Vienna) (c. 1750)

Welcome to our latest exhibit featuring the captivating works of the Austrian painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch. One of the highlight pieces is his remarkable work titled "Study for The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (for Saint Ulrich Vienna)" created around 1750. This painting vibrantly captures a biblical scene filled with emotion and divine interaction.The central focus of the painting is the presentation of the infant Christ in the temple. Set against a backdrop of monumental architecture and shadowed niches, the scene is occupied by several figures, each rendered with dramatic gestures and expressions. The elderly Simeon, depicted with a white beard, holds the Christ child aloft with a look of awe and devotion. This act symbolizes the fulfillment of his prophecy that he would not die before seeing the Messiah.Beside Simeon, the child's mother, the Virgin Mary, reaches out towards her son, her posture reflective of both reverence and maternal care. She is flanked by Joseph and attended by other figures who watch the scene with varying expressions of amazement and worship.Above, an angel flies gracefully, accentuating the heavenly approval of the event. The light from above bathes the central figures, emphasizing the sanctity of the moment.Maulbertsch's skillful use of color and light brings this religious episode to life with a palpable sense of movement and emotion, making it a spiritual and artistic spectacle.