Saint Deicolus and the Boar - Johann Wolfgang Baumgartner

A detailed Rococo pen and wash drawing depicting the legend of Saint Deicolus amidst a chaotic hunt, framed by an ornate, asymmetrical cartouche.

This work by Johann Wolfgang Baumgartner depicts the legend of Saint Deicolus, a seventh-century Irish monk who founded the monastery of Lure in France. The narrative focuses on the saint encountering a wild boar during a hunt. Baumgartner, a German artist active in Augsburg, employs the characteristic visual language of the Rococo period to frame this hagiographic scene. The composition is enclosed within a highly decorative, asymmetrical cartouche, a common device in eighteenth-century graphic arts that blends natural elements with ornamental flourishes.

The scene is busy with activity. To the left, the saint stands in his monastic habit, gesturing towards the boar, which appears tamed by his presence. Surrounding them is a chaotic hunting party, complete with horses, hounds, and hunters wielding spears. The artist uses grey wash to create depth and shadow, giving the forest setting a sense of atmospheric density. The trees and foliage are rendered with fluid, calligraphic lines that guide the eye across the frame, while the figures are captured in dynamic, mid-action poses.

Baumgartner was known for his work in reverse glass painting and his prolific output of drawings for prints. This particular piece demonstrates his ability to manage complex, multi-figure compositions within a confined space. The contrast between the quiet, spiritual authority of the saint and the frantic energy of the hunters provides a clear thematic tension. The use of a monochromatic palette emphasises the draughtsmanship and the play of light across the forest floor. This print offers a view into the intersection of religious folklore and the decorative sensibilities of the mid-eighteenth century, reflecting the period's preference for theatricality and artful arrangement in both sacred and secular subjects.