The Departure of Saint Florian

Albrecht Altdorfer's The Departure of Saint Florian combines the artist's skills of full length portraiture, landscapes and architectural depictions in a complex but beautiful oil painting.

Description

Whilst predominantly known as a landscape painter, with most of his artworks not featuring anything else but the green scenery of the Bavarian countryside, there were occassional entries into the world of portraiture and architectural painting. In this case he chooses to centre in on a small settlement in order to capture this significant moment. There is a small trail of individuals who slowly drift off into the background with the elements of landscape placed only in the background.

The congregation of figures, deep in dicussion, would suggest that the departure was perhaps controversial, possibly impacted by local politics. Otherwise there would have been no need for all the discussions. Behind all this is a calming sun which drops light into the piece and allows the foreground a brighter finish. Surrounding it is a cloud formation which darkens other areas of the sky and makes the sun appear even clearer.

Content Explained

Saint Florian, around whom the entire series is based, was a Roman soldier from Enns, which is an Austrian town. The soldier is believed to have defended Christians in the early 4th century, and later being punished for this by death. This painting depicts the soldier with his saintly status, dressed as a pilgrim and being followed by supporters as he leaves the town. The painting is also sometimes known as Saint Florian Taking Leave of the Monastery and is considered one of the best in the series. Its location in the world-renowned Uffizi also ensures that this piece will never be forgotten.

Stories of Saint Florian

Altdorfer was sometimes commissioned to produce series of related artworks for a single donor. That was the case here, with seven panels being produced around the theme of the Stories of Saint Florian, with The Departure of Saint Florian being just one of them. The paintings would have been arranged together in a single display, but were later separated, hence their inclusion today in a number of different galleries and art museums.

Technical Proficiency

Albrecht Altdorfer was famous for the attention to detail that he placed into his paintings, and this one is no different in that regard. He was briefer in approach within his etchings and perhaps saw that medium as more of an opportunity to generate funding for other areas of his career. His drawings were more in line with his paintings, though without the crucial display of colour other than a fleeting use of touches of watercolour in some examples.

Location

Albrecht Altdorfer's The Departure of Saint Florian can be found in the permanent collection of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The artwork measures 76.4 cm × 67.2 cm (30.1 in × 26.5 in) and was completed using oils on a wooden panel. The piece is generally dated to around c. 1518-1520, although some art historians still debate its precise year of creation.

Large Image

Saint Florian Taking Leave of the Monastery in Detail by Albrecht Altdorfer