Artwork
The Resurrection
The Resurrection is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Philip Galle. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the Rosenwald Collection.
About this work
Overview
Around 1570 Philip Galle, a prominent Dutch publisher and engraver, produced an engraving titled *The Resurrection*. The work belongs to the late Renaissance period and serves as a reproductive print, likely based on a composition by an earlier master. It presents the biblical moment of Christ’s emergence from the tomb, arranged in a densely populated, dramatic tableau.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment of Christ’s rising, with two central figures on a rocky rise—one gesturing upward as if proclaiming the event. Below, Roman soldiers react in disarray: some crawl, others clutch their heads, and a few lie fallen, their weapons abandoned. To the right, three cloaked onlookers observe calmly, underscoring the contrast between chaos and serene witness.
Technique & Style
Galle employed fine, closely spaced lines to model light and shadow, creating a sense of volume that approaches three‑dimensionality. The intricate hatching conveys the swirling dark sky pierced by shafts of light, while the detailed rendering of armor, drapery, and terrain demonstrates the engraver’s skill in translating painted compositions into the linear language of print.
History & Provenance
As a reproductive print, the engraving was intended for a broad audience, disseminating a composition that likely originated from a painted source now lost or unidentified. Galle’s workshop, active in Antwerp, specialized in such copies, contributing to the spread of religious imagery across Northern Europe during the Counter‑Reformation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philip (or Philips) Galle (1537 – March 1612) was a Dutch publisher, best known for publishing old master prints, which he also produced as designer and engraver. He is especially known for his reproductive engravings of paintings.
Dianae Ephesiae Templum (The Temple of Diana at Ephesus)
Saint Peter Speaks to the People about Christ
The Vision of Saint Peter
Beheading of Saint James
Saint Paul Shipwrecked on the Island of Melita
The Angel Orders Saint Philip to Accompany the Ethiopian Eunuch
Notorious Examples of Wealth from Antiquity
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins
