Artwork
The Entombment
The Entombment is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Guercino. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The Entombment is an oil on canvas painting by Guercino, depicting a somber scene of Christ being laid to rest, characterized by restraint and emotional depth despite compositional constraints.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a moment of mourning, focusing on Christ and a limited group of attendants. The somber tone conveys the emotional gravity of the event.
Technique & Style
Guercino employed chiaroscuro to enhance emotional depth, achieving expressive restraint through carefully composed figures, limited in number by the patron's budget.
History & Provenance
Guercino's account books reveal the patron's specific payment for one full-length, one bust-length, and three half-length figures, highlighting the artist's adaptability to financial constraints.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
