Who painted Simeon with the Infant Jesus?

Peter Brandl painted Simeon with the Infant Jesus in 1730.

What Bible passage does Simeon with the Infant Jesus depict?

Simeon with the Infant Jesus depicts the biblical scene from Luke 2:25-34.

Simeon with the Infant Jesus by Peter Brandl

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This painting is rightfully considered to be one of the pinnacles of this painter’s production – not only for its high quality, but also thanks to its original brushwork. Perhaps nowhere else did Brandl express himself so freely – the paints were applied in several thick layers and the effect of flickering light even enhanced the force of his artistic expression. Numerous period and later copies attest to the importance of this work. Apart from the energetic brushstrokes, the painter used his fingers to apply the paint, at other places traces of the brushholder can be seen. In some parts of the canvas, Brandl’s dynamic, even eruptive painting process led to a deformation of the shapes. In a briliant manner he managed to capture the joy and emotion of old Simeon over infant Jesus, in whom he recognized the future Messiah. Simeon was in fact destined by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he beheld the Saviour of this world: “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.” (Luke 2, 29–30)

Details

Artist: Peter Brandl
Created: c. 1730
Medium: oil on canvas
Dimension: 60cm × 78cm
Passage: Luke 2:25-34

Found in: Luke, Luke 2, 18th century

Luke 2:25-34

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,

28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,

34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

Luke 2:25-34 · World English Bible

The artist

Peter Brandl

1668 - 1735

Prague, Czechia

Petr Brandl (Peter Johannes Brandl or Jan Petr Brandl) (24 October 1668 – 24 September 1735) was a Czech painter of the late Baroque in the bilingual Kingdom of Bohemia. Brandl was the sixth child in a Czech-German family. His father, Michal Brandl, worked as a tailor and was of German ancestry. His mother, Alžběta Hrbková, was Czech from a peasant family in the south Bohemian village of Přestanice (now part of Hlavňovice).