Who painted Geißelung Christi?

Geißelung Christi was painted by Paolo Farinati in 1565.

Where can I see Geißelung Christi?

Geißelung Christi is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Geißelung Christi?

Geißelung Christi is associated with Mannerism.

Artwork

Geißelung Christi

Paolo Farinati , 1565

Geißelung Christi is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Paolo Farinati. It dates from 1565 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Paolo Farinati’s *Geißelung Christi* (1565) is a late‑Renaissance work that portrays the biblical Flagellation of Christ. Executed in the Mannerist style, the painting is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and reflects the artist’s northern Italian background.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the moment of Christ’s scourging: a half‑naked, bound figure lies on the floor while a tormentor lifts a club, and a third onlooker watches with raised arms. The scene emphasizes the physical and emotional intensity of the punishment, inviting contemplation of suffering and redemption.

Technique & Style

Farinati employs pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing deep shadows with bright highlights that delineate faces and objects. The figures are elongated and posed with exaggerated gestures, hallmarks of Mannerist aesthetics that heighten drama and tension within the confined interior space.

History & Provenance

Born in Verona around 1524, Farinati worked among peers such as Paolo Veronese, drawing on a Florentine‑influenced regional tradition. After its creation in the mid‑16th century, the painting entered the holdings of the Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display.

Context

The work belongs to a period when northern Italian artists were exploring complex compositions and emotional expressiveness beyond the balanced ideals of the High Renaissance. Farinati’s treatment of a sacred narrative through stark lighting and stylized forms reflects broader Mannerist concerns with artificiality and theatricality.

Artist & collection

Artist

Paolo Farinati

Paolo Farinati (also known as Farinato or Farinato degli Uberti; c. 1524 – c. 1606) was an Italian painter of the Mannerist style, active mainly in his native Verona, but also in Mantua and Venice. He may have ancestors…