Die wunderbare Brotvermehrung

About this artwork

Von Paul Troger stammt nicht nur das Deckenfresko im ehemaligen Prämonstratenser Chorherrenstift Hradisch bei Olmütz, das er 1731 schuf und zu dem dieses Gemälde als Entwurf fungierte. Der Künstler hat diese in den Evangelien geschilderte Episode auch im ehemaligen Sommerrefektorium (heute: Marmorsaal) des Prämonstratenser Chorherrenstifes Geras im Jahr 1738 als Fresko umgesetzt.

Art Historical Context

**Die wunderbare Brotverme** is a captivating oil on canvas painting (64 x 95 cm) by Paul Troger created around 1731. This work depicts the biblical miracle of the loaves and fishes from the, where Christ multiplies bread to feed the multitudes—a powerful symbol of divine providence and abundance. Troger, a leading figure in Austrian Baroque art, masterfully used this medium as a preparatory sketch, or *Entwurf*, to grand-scale frescoes, showcasing his skill in dynamic composition and luminous color even in this smaller format. The painting served as the design for Troger's ceiling fresco in the former Premonstratensian monastery church at Hradisch near Olmütz, executed that same year. Remarkably, Troger revisited the same evangelical episode in 1738 for a fresco in the summer refectory (now the Marmorsaal) of the Premonstratensian monastery at Geras. These connections highlight his role in adorning monastic spaces with illusionistic Baroque frescoes, blending architecture and painting to inspire awe and faith. Housed in Vienna's Belvedere Collection, this gem offers a rare glimpse into Troger's creative process, bridging intimate studio work with monumental ecclesiastical art. It exemplifies the Baroque era's emphasis on dramatic religious narratives, inviting visitors to ponder the interplay of faith, artistry, and abundance.

About the Artist

Paul Troger · 1698–1762

Austrian painter. Comment on works: Religious