Artwork
The Resurrection
The Resurrection is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Bartholomeus Breenbergh. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Painted in 1635 by Bartholomeus Breenbergh, this oil-on-canvas work depicts the resurrection of Christ. Breenbergh, a Dutch artist shaped by years in Rome, merged Italianate compositional sensibilities with Northern European detail. The painting is now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, representing his mature style after returning to the Netherlands.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows Christ ascending, his pale, wounded body illuminated against a dark sky, clutching a red-cross banner. Below, a woman stands atop discarded armor, while other figures lie in varied poses of awe or collapse. The imagery conveys divine triumph over death, with the broken weapons symbolizing the defeat of earthly power, and the flag identifying the risen figure as Christ.
Technique & Style
Breenbergh employs chiaroscuro to heighten the drama: light falls sharply on Christ’s torso, casting deep shadows across the landscape and figures below. The contrast isolates the resurrection as a luminous event amid gloom. His brushwork is controlled yet expressive, blending Roman grandeur with Dutch realism in the rendering of textures and spatial depth.
History & Provenance
Created after Breenbergh’s decade-long stay in Rome, the painting reflects his absorption of Italian Renaissance and Baroque traditions. He returned to Amsterdam in 1630, where he continued producing religious and landscape works. The painting entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection in the 20th century, following a documented lineage of private Dutch and American ownership.
Context
In 17th-century Dutch society, religious imagery remained significant despite Protestant reforms. Artists like Breenbergh navigated this by emphasizing symbolic, emotionally resonant scenes rather than overtly Catholic iconography. His Roman training allowed him to present biblical narratives with classical gravitas, appealing to both devotional and aesthetic sensibilities.
Legacy
Though not among the most widely known Dutch Golden Age works, *The Resurrection* exemplifies the cross-cultural exchange between Italy and the Netherlands. Breenbergh’s synthesis of Italian light and Dutch observation influenced later religious painters in the region, preserving a quiet but enduring thread in Northern European sacred art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomeus Breenbergh (before 13 November 1598 – after 3 October 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of Italian and Italianate landscapes, in Rome (1619-1630) and Amsterdam (1630-1657).
