This early 18th-century Flemish oil painting depicts Christ on the cross with a sorrowful Mary Magdalene and Jerusalem beyond.
Head bloodied by a crown of thorns, arms taut and wracked with pain, it’s a moment of utmost suffering tempered by enduring love. In the foreground, a partial skull is a conspicuous inclusion. It’s a Memento Mori (Latin: remember you will die). Is Mary praying for Christ’s salvation or the future of mankind?
Over the centuries, Christ’s crucifixion has often been the subject of artistic portrayals, with numerous figures included at the foot of the cross. This version, painted circa 1720, echoes an earlier model adopted by Flemish artist, Cornelis de Baellieur the Elder (1607-1671). The figure of Christ is also reminiscent of Rubens’ interpretation from circa 1618-1620, reversed.
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Held in a later frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 22” x 34” / 56cm x 86cm
Year of creation: c. 1720
Provenance: Private co
...llection, Germany.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Later stretcher. Faint stretcher marks. Fine craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in excellent condition.
Our reference: BRV1928
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1126768
Dateline of this antique is 18th Century
Height is 86cm (33.9inches)Width is 56cm (22.0inches)Depth is 4cm (1.6inches)
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