Artwork
The Maries and Dead Christ
The Maries and Dead Christ is a print by Jean Louis Roullet. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Maries and Dead Christ is a print that reproduces a composition originally painted by Annibale Carracci around 1600. It depicts a dramatic scene of mourning, with the dead Christ surrounded by three women.
Subject & Meaning
The scene shows Christ's body on the ground, surrounded by three grieving women. The figures are set against a dark background with a rocky hill and distant trees, evoking a sense of sorrow and loss.
Technique & Style
The print uses chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark to create a sense of depth and emotion. Deep shadows highlight the figures, giving the scene a sense of weight and drama.
History & Provenance
The print is based on a painting by Annibale Carracci, once part of the Castle Howard collection. The original painting was later in the Orleans Gallery, where it was engraved by William Sharp.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Louis Roullet made prints in the late 1600s. He carved religious scenes onto metal plates and inked them onto paper. Look at “The Maries and Dead Christ,” where three figures gather around the fallen Christ, and…
