Artwork
Lamentation with angels
Lamentation with angels is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Palma il Giovane. It dates from 1612 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1612 by the Venetian painter Palma il Giovane, this early Baroque work portrays a biblical lamentation scene on a slate panel. The composition centers on a nude Christ figure, his torso wrapped in a white cloth and crowned with thorns, surrounded by three angels. The piece is part of the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures the moment after the crucifixion, with Christ lying on a white shroud while angels attend him. Two angels stand behind the body, and a third kneels at his side, their gestures emphasizing sorrow and reverence. The arrangement underscores the theological focus on Christ’s sacrifice and the celestial mourning.
Technique & Style
The angels’ garments feature vivid accents—a red sash on one, a blue robe with a red sash on another—adding color within the otherwise muted palette.
Executed on slate, the painting employs strong chiaroscuro to model the figures and generate a dramatic contrast between light and shadow. The angels’ garments feature vivid accents—a red sash on one, a blue robe with a red sash on another—adding color within the otherwise muted palette. Palma’s handling reflects the influence of Tintoretto, especially in the dynamic composition and vigorous brushwork.
History & Provenance
Palma il Giovane, a leading figure of the Venetian school after Tintoretto’s death, produced this work during a period of extensive commissions across northern Italy and Central Europe. The slate panel eventually entered the holdings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display.
Context
The early Baroque era saw a shift toward heightened emotional expression and theatrical lighting, both evident in this lamentation. Palma’s choice of slate as a support was unusual, lending a cool, somber tone that reinforces the scene’s mournful atmosphere while allowing the luminous chiaroscuro to stand out.
Artist & collection
Artist
Iacopo Negretti (1548/50 – 14 October 1628), best known as Jacopo or Giacomo Palma il Giovane or simply Palma Giovane ('Young Palma'), was an Italian painter from Venice and a notable exponent of the Venetian school.
