Artwork
Pietà
Pietà is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Overview
Pietà, created by Jacob Jordaens around 1650, is a Flemish Baroque oil painting depicting a somber religious scene of mourning, characterized by dramatic lighting and intense emotional expression.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a poignant moment of lamentation, with a central female figure in blue, likely the Virgin Mary, cradling the head of the deceased Jesus Christ, surrounded by grieving figures, conveying sorrow and reverence.
Technique & Style
Jordaens employed chiaroscuro to achieve profound depth and emotional intensity, with a strong light source casting deep shadows across the figures, accentuating their grief-stricken expressions.
History & Provenance
Following the deaths of Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, Jordaens became the preeminent painter in Flanders. Pietà is now part of the Museo del Prado's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques (Jacob) Jordaens (19 May 1593 – 18 October 1678) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and a designer of tapestries and prints.
The Holy Family with Shepherds
The Holy Family with Saint Anne and the Young Baptist and His Parents
Untitled
Apollo as Victor over Pan
Susanna and the Elders
The Betrayal of Christ
Portrait of the artist with his family
The Tribute Money. Peter Finding the Silver Coin in the Mouth of the Fish. Also called "The Ferry Boat to Antwerp"
