Artwork
The dead Christ supported by two angels
The dead Christ supported by two angels is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Pier Maria Pennacchi. It dates from 1499 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Pier Maria Pennacchi, a Treviso‑based painter of the Italian early Renaissance, produced a small devotional image around the close of the 15th century. Executed in paint, the work portrays the lifeless body of Christ attended by two angels and is presently part of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the dead Christ, his head inclined and eyes shut, his wounds subtly exposed beneath a modest shroud. Flanking him, two angels cradle his form, their expressions conveying sorrow and tender concern. The scene invites contemplation of Christ’s sacrifice and the compassionate presence of the celestial beings.
Technique & Style
Pennacchi employs a restrained palette and soft modeling to render the figures, using delicate transitions of light and shadow that hint at chiaroscuro without dramatic contrast. The background recedes into a muted landscape of distant trees and horizon, reinforcing the solemn atmosphere while maintaining the balanced proportions characteristic of early Renaissance painting.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1499, the painting remained in private or ecclesiastical hands before entering the German capital’s Gemäldegalerie. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent Italian Renaissance art, and the work now serves as a documented example of Pennacchi’s output during his active period in Treviso.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pier Maria Pennacchi (1464 – before 1515) was an Italian Renaissance painter primarily active in Treviso.
