Artwork
The Resurrection of Christ
The Resurrection of Christ is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Accademia Carrara.
About this work
Overview
The Resurrection of Christ is a tempera and gold on panel painting created by Andrea Mantegna in 1492. The work depicts a pivotal moment in Christian iconography, showcasing Jesus Christ's emergence from the dead.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates Jesus standing on a stone structure, draped in a white cloth, with a raised right arm holding a cross-flag. Surrounding figures, possibly soldiers or guards, react with shock or awe, emphasizing the scene's dramatic and spiritual significance.
Technique & Style
Mantegna employed tempera and gold on panel to achieve a striking contrast between the dark, shadowy background and the lighter, more vibrant tones of the central figures, drawing attention to Jesus and the emotional responses of the onlookers.
History & Provenance
Once considered lost, the painting was authenticated in time for a 1992 Royal Academy of Arts exhibition. It was part of the Barbara Piasecka Johnson Collection in Princeton until its 2003 auction, where it sold for $25.5 million. Prior to the sale, it was temporarily loaned to The Frick Collection in New York.
Context
Mantegna's work on this subject is complemented by his own drawings in the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and similarly themed paintings by contemporaries like Giovanni Bellini, highlighting the artistic exploration of Christian narratives during the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea Mantegna (UK: , US: ; Italian: ; c. 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and the son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna…
