Artwork
Deposition of Christ
Deposition of Christ is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter van Mol. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1600 by the Flemish artist Pieter van Mol, this oil painting portrays the biblical episode of Christ’s removal from the cross. Executed in the Baroque style characteristic of the early seventeenth century, the work is part of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the lifeless body of Jesus, lowered from the crucifixion site by two attendants who support his limbs. Surrounding figures, clothed in somber robes, observe the scene with grief, emphasizing the solemnity of the moment and the transition toward burial.
Technique & Style
Van Mol employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, juxtaposing illuminated flesh against deep shadows to heighten drama. The oil medium allows for rich coloration and subtle modeling, while the arrangement of objects such as a bowl and burial tools in the foreground adds narrative detail.
History & Provenance
A native of Flanders, van Mol worked under the influence of Peter Paul Rubens and served as a court painter for the French monarchy. His religious history paintings, including this piece, reflect the cross‑cultural artistic exchanges of the period before entering the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter van Mol or Peter van Mol (17 November 1599 in Antwerp – 8 April 1650 in Paris) was a Flemish painter known for his history paintings of religious subject matter, and to a lesser extent for his allegorical compositions, genre scenes…
