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The Vision of Saint Bernard
(Renaissance Europe )
Seated at a reading desk in front of a landscape, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) has a vision of the Virgin Mary attended by two angels. The saint, who wears the white habit of the Cistercian order of monks, was known for his devotion to the Virgin, and several mystical visions of her were ascribed to him.
This painting, which the great writer on art Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) thought was the best Puligo ever did, is executed in a monumental and yet graceful style.
For more information on this painting, please see Federico Zeri's 1976 catalogue no. 204, pp. 316-317.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Giovanni Gualberto and Niccolò del Giocondo, Florence, mid 16th century [mode of acquisition unknown]; Don Marcello Massarenti Collection, Rome, prior to 1881 [mode of acquisition unknown] [1881 catalogue: no. 55; 1897 catalogue: no. 126]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Conservation
| Date | Description | Narrative |
|---|---|---|
| Examination | examined for condition | |
| 6/21/1966 | Treatment | examined for condition; inpainted; other |
| 11/5/1976 | Treatment | repaired |
| 6/13/1977 | Examination | examined for exhibition |
| 6/15/1977 | Treatment | cleaned; examined for condition; other; varnish removed or reduced; x-ray |
| 8/7/1987 | Treatment | inpainted; loss compensation |
| 8/10/1987 | Treatment | inpainted; other |
Geographies
Italy, Florence (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Painted surface H: 84 1/4 x W: 67 11/16 x D: 1 3/8 in. (214 x 171.9 x 3.5 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters with the Massarenti Collection, 1902
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
37.652