Artwork
The Resurrection of Christ with SS. Leonard of Noblac and Lucia
The Resurrection of Christ with SS. Leonard of Noblac and Lucia is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1496, this oil painting by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio presents a resurrection scene centered on the risen Christ, accompanied by Saint Leonard of Noblac and Saint Lucy. The work exemplifies the Lombard contribution to the High Renaissance, reflecting the artist’s training under Leonardo da Vinci and his participation in the Milanese workshop.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features Christ emerging from a rocky ledge, his luminous silver robe and flag bearing a red cross emphasizing triumph over death. Flanking him, Saint Lucy, dressed in a deep red garment, gazes upward with clasped hands, while Saint Leonard kneels in a striped habit, both figures embodying devotion and intercession.
Technique & Style
Boltraffio employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, contrasting bright illumination on Christ’s form with the subdued shadows that define the surrounding landscape. The handling of light creates a sense of three‑dimensionality, while the delicate rendering of fabrics and the atmospheric sky reveal the influence of Leonardo’s sfumato and compositional balance.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, where it remains on display. Boltraffio’s association with Leonardo’s studio placed him among a circle of artists, including Bernardino Luini, who disseminated Leonardo’s techniques throughout Lombardy during the late fifteenth century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio (or Beltraffio) (1466 or 1467 – 1516) was an Italian painter of the High Renaissance from Lombardy, who worked in the studio of Leonardo da Vinci.
