Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Cornelis Engebrechtsz.. It dates from 1524 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., an early‑17th‑century Dutch artist from Leiden, painted the Lamentation of Christ in 1524 with oil on panel. The composition belongs to the Northern Renaissance and is now part of the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in Munich. It presents a somber gathering around the deceased Christ, set against a distant town and a hinted crucifixion under a cloudy sky.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the traditional biblical moment when Christ’s followers mourn his body after the crucifixion. Figures surround the naked corpse on a rock, including women in vivid red and blue garments, a book‑holding lady, a staff‑bearing figure, and a kneeling monk. The presence of the crown of thorns and the distant crucifixion reinforces themes of sacrifice and redemption.
Technique & Style
Engebrechtsz. employs oil paint to achieve subtle modelling of flesh and fabric, while the contrast of light and shadow creates a chiaroscuro effect that heightens the scene’s emotional intensity. The landscape background is rendered with muted tones, allowing the brightly coloured garments and the illuminated body to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
Recognised as Leiden’s first notable painter, Engebrechtsz. trained several younger artists, among them his own sons and Lucas van Leyden, who later eclipsed his fame. The Lamentation of Christ entered the Alte Pinakothek collection, where it remains accessible to scholars and the public as an example of early Dutch religious painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., also known as Cornelis Engelbrechtsz. (c.1462–1527) was an early Dutch painter. He was born and died in Leiden, and is considered the first important painter from that city. Engebrechtsz. taught…
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Die Dornenkrönung Christi
