Saint Anthony by Tanzio da Varallo
Tanzio da Varallo (c. 1575/80–c. 1632/33) – Saint Anthony
of Padua (early 17th century, attributed)
In this intimate portrait, Saint Anthony is depicted as a youthful or
adolescent friar, his head uncovered and his gaze direct yet introspective. He
wears a simple brown robe with a hood or cowl — clearly indicating his
monastic/Franciscan affiliation — and the composition is set against a dark,
nearly black background, which intensifies the focus on his luminous face and
upper torso.
In his right hand (from the viewer’s perspective) he holds a slender
stem bearing two white lilies — one fully open, the other a bud — symbols of
purity, innocence, and the saint’s association with the lilies of sanctity. The
textured surface of the paint shows delicate craquelure, and the modelling of
light and shadow reflects the careful, introspective devotional style of late‑Renaissance
or early Baroque portraiture.
The overall atmosphere is one of quiet contemplation: the saint’s
slightly parted lips, the large expressive eyes, and the soft illumination of
his face against the dark background suggest humility and spiritual presence.
While the work was previously attributed to “unknown,” the close correspondence
in style and iconography with Tanzio da Varallo’s documented portraits supports
a provisional attribution to him or his workshop.
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