Artwork
The Blood of the Redeemer
The Blood of the Redeemer is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Bartolomeo Passarotti. It dates from 1565 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1565 by the Bolognese painter Bartolomeo Passarotti, *The Blood of the Redeemer* is a religious composition from the late‑sixteenth‑century Mannerist period. The work is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection, where it is displayed as an example of northern Italian devotional art.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a solitary, muscular figure nailed to a cross, his arms outstretched and his torso wrapped only in a thin white band. Two attendants in blue garments observe from above, while a modest metal pot and a cloth lie at the foot of the cross, underscoring the themes of sacrifice and redemption central to Christian iconography.
Technique & Style
Passarotti employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, illuminating the figure from the side so that the flesh and musculature appear almost sculptural against the dark, cloud‑filled sky. The stark contrast between light and shadow, together with elongated forms and heightened emotional expression, reflects the Mannerist tendency toward drama and artificial elegance.
History & Provenance
The painting remained in private hands in Italy before entering the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it was acquired in the early twentieth century. Its provenance traces a typical path for works of northern Italian Mannerism, moving from regional collections to an American public institution.
Context
Passarotti’s career unfolded amid Bologna’s vibrant artistic scene, where he contributed to the diffusion of Mannerist aesthetics beyond the central Italian hubs. *The Blood of the Redeemer* exemplifies his engagement with the period’s stylistic experiments, while also aligning with the Counter‑Reformation’s demand for clear, affective religious imagery.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomeo Passarotti or Passerotti (1529–1592) was an Italian painter of the mannerist period, who worked mainly in his native Bologna. His family name is also spelled Passerotti or Passarotto.
