Der hl. Benno,

1702

Material / Technology / Carrier

Leinwand

Dimensions of the object

117,5 x 99,5 cm

Displayed

Not on display

Department

Deutsche Malerei

Genre

Malerei

Inventory number

9003

Acquisition

1920 aus Privatbesitz erworben

Stock

Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München

Citation

Johann Michael Rottmayr, Der hl. Benno, 1702, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek München, URL: https://www.sammlung.pinakothek.de/en/artwork/8MLvjNzLz3 (Last updated on 24.08.2023)

Rottmayr, who came from Laufen in Upper Bavaria, trained under Johann Carl Loth (1632–1698) in Venice and was court painter in Salzburg and Vienna, depicts the legend of Benno, the Bishop of Meissen (ca. 1010–1106), who was deprived of his bishopric due to the conflict over the right to appoint bishops. Upon his departure Benno reputedly locked the cathedral and threw the keys in the Elbe. This picture shows his return, pointing to the keys that had been found in the stomach of a fish in the river. Benno was canonised in 1523 and became the patron saint of Bavaria and Munich in 1580.