Artwork

The Angel Is Opening Christ's Tomb

The Angel Is Opening Christ's Tomb, by Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp, oil, 1640
The Angel Is Opening Christ's Tomb, by Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp, oil, 1640

The Angel Is Opening Christ's Tomb is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

About this work

Overview

The Angel Is Opening Christ's Tomb is a 1640 oil painting by Dutch artist Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp, currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.

Subject & Meaning

Depicting a pivotal moment in Christian iconography, the painting shows an angel opening Christ's tomb, surrounded by awestruck onlookers, conveying themes of reverence, wonder, and the divine.

Technique & Style

Cuyp employs chiaroscuro, contrasting the angel's radiant, glowing white robes with a dark, mysterious background, to evoke drama and spiritual tension.

History & Provenance

Created in 1640, the work's provenance prior to its current location at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, is not detailed here.

Context

Reflecting 17th-century Dutch religious art, the painting's use of light and shadow, as well as the rustic attire of the bystanders, situates it within the period's artistic and theological sensibilities.

Legacy

While specific influences or notable exhibitions are not highlighted, the piece remains a notable example of Cuyp's work and 17th-century religious painting.

Artist & collection