The Glorification of the Royal Hungarian Saints 1772 - 1773

Franz Anton Maulbertsch created "The Glorification of the Royal Hungarian Saints" using oil on canvas. Maulbertsch, an Austrian painter, made this modello, or preparatory painting, to present his vision for a church ceiling in Hungary. In 18th-century Hungary, being recognized as a saint was a potent symbol of national identity and divine favor. Maulbertsch weaves together religious fervor with political overtones. Dominating the canvas are the Hungarian saints, rendered in dynamic poses amidst swirling clouds and throngs of adoring angels. Note how Maulbertsch uses the lightness of the clouds to emphasize the figures in the painting. The painting reinforces a hierarchy that intersects religious, national, and class identities. The saints, primarily male figures of royal lineage, are presented as intercessors, their elevated status reinforcing Hungary's divine right to rule and the power of its aristocracy. The celestial realm becomes a stage for the performance of power, reinforcing societal structures of the time.