St Joseph with Baby Jesus

Valentin J. Metzinger (St Avold, Lorraine, 1699 – Ljubljana, 1759) was trained in Italy, probably Rome and Bologna, and perhaps in Venice as well. His work in Ljubljana is confirmed as of 1727 on and his first known dated work is from 1729. His works are mainly religious in subject matter, and painted mostly for churches and monasteries in Slovenia and Croatia as well as in the Austrian part of Styria. He worked for the aristocratic Lamberg, Reigersfeld, Breckersfeld and Rasp families, and he had important ties with Bishop of Ljubljana Count Amadej Attems. Metzinger’s style combines elements of Roman Baroque of the end of the 17th century and international Mannerism. The picture derives from Zagreb Cathedral.