Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cigoli. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1600 by Lodovico Cardi, known as Cigoli, this oil painting presents a solemn rendition of the Lamentation of Christ. Executed at the cusp of the late Mannerist and early Baroque periods, the work now resides in Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, offering a quiet yet powerful visual meditation on the aftermath of the crucifixion.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the lifeless body of Jesus, supported by a bearded figure wearing a red turban, while a kneeling woman—identified as the Virgin Mary—places her hands upon his torso. Two angels observe from behind, and an additional figure stands in the distance, together emphasizing the grief and reverence surrounding the moment of mourning.
Technique & Style
Cigoli employs pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing light to fall on the central figures and recede into deep shadow, thereby heightening emotional intensity and spatial depth. The handling of flesh tones and drapery reflects a transition from the elegant elongation of Mannerism toward the more naturalistic, dramatic sensibility that would define early Baroque painting.
History & Provenance
Born and trained in Florence, Cigoli later moved to Rome where he contributed to the evolving artistic climate of the early 17th century. The painting entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in the 19th century, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s holdings of Italian Baroque religious art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lodovico or Ludovico Cardi (21 September 1559 – 8 June 1613), also known as Cigoli, was an Italian painter and architect of the late Mannerist and early Baroque period, trained and active in his early career in…
