Artwork
Jesús en el Tiberíades
Jesús en el Tiberíades is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Antonio Muñoz Degrain. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Antonio Muñoz Degrain’s 1909 oil painting *Jesús en el Tiberíades* is part of the Museo del Prado’s holdings. Executed during the artist’s later period, the work blends post‑Impressionist concerns with a narrative focus, reflecting Degrain’s shift from eclectic historicism toward a more atmospheric, light‑driven approach.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a nocturnal scene on a rocky shore, where a solitary figure in a white robe looks out over the water while a distant group gathers around a fire. Though the title references Jesus in Tiberias, the visual emphasis rests on the contemplative woman and the surrounding landscape, inviting reflection on solitude, pilgrimage, and the interplay of divine and earthly light.
Technique & Style
Degrain employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using the moon’s silvery illumination against the dark sea to model forms and create depth. Bold, expressive brushwork adds texture to the sky and water, while the warm glow of the fire introduces contrasting color temperature, exemplifying his post‑Impressionist palette and his interest in atmospheric effects.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1909, the work entered the Museo del Prado’s collection, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s effort to represent Spanish artists who navigated the transition from 19th‑century eclecticism to early 20th‑century modernist tendencies.
Context
During the early 1900s Degrain turned increasingly toward narrative landscapes inspired by literature and biblical themes. *Jesús en el Tiberíades* illustrates this phase, merging a scriptural title with a secular, moonlit tableau, and situates the artist within the broader European movement toward mood‑driven, post‑Impressionist painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio Muñoz Degrain (18 November 1840 – 12 October 1924) was a Spanish painter who began in the Eclectic style, later in his career he moved towards Impressionism.
