Jerónimo Vich y Valterra (1459-1535) was Spain’s ambassador to Rome between 1506 and 1521, under the reigns of Ferdinand the Catholic and Charles V. Vich commissioned Sebastiano del Piombo to paint a triptych whose central panel with the Lamentation over the Body of Christ is now at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. One of its sides bears Christ’s Descent into Limbo and is also at t
This triptych is the principal creation and the work that has given the name to an anonymous follower of Rogier van der Weyden, previously identified as Vrancke van der Stockt. The triptych belonged to Leonor de Mascarenhas (1503-1584), a Portuguese lady who moved to Spain in 1526 and was aya to Philip II and afterwards to his son Don Carlos. When in 1564 she founded the convent of Franciscan nuns
Surrounded by angels holding the symbols of the Passion, God the Father, the dead Christ and the Holy Spirit are shown in a cloud of glory over a landscape. This device, which derives from prints by Dürer, would also be used by Titian for The Glory in the Museo del Prado. The figures reveal the influence of Raphael. Vermeyen was highly appreciated at the court of Charles V and undertook impor
Supported by an angel and accompanied by a youthful angel holding the crown of thorns, the dead Christ lies on the orb of the world before God the Father and the dove of the Holy Spirit. The expressive and luminous composition, particularly the figure of Christ, appears in other works by Giaquinto such as the fresco in the presbytery of the chapel in the Royal Palace in Madrid.
This is one of Bernat’s early works and is very similar to the work of Bermejo in the anatomy, colour and slim proportions of the figures in it -Saint John, the Magdalene, Longinus- as well as the little use of gold in the figures and in the scenery. The composition, a grandiose crucifixion which could have been completed in Bermejo’s workshop and with his help, is based on that of the altar piece
Esta pintura ha sido relacionada con Durero (1471-1528) y con Lucas de Leiden (1494-1533). Supone un sobresaliente ejercicio de estilo que manifiesta su atenta observación de originales alemanes del siglo XV, cuya técnica Giordano intentó imitar. En ella Giordano aplicó una pincelada minuciosa y precisa de trazos cortos que reproducen con rigurosa exactitud el aspecto de los objetos, la incidencia
Christ rests, lifeless, on his own shroud. He is held by his Mother, who looks imploringly to the heavens. Mary Magdalene kisses his hand while Saint John contemplates the scene from behind. The Crown, Nails and Hebrew, Greek and Latin inscription on a paper in the foreground recall the Crucifixion. Jesus’ posture on Mary’s knees and the work’s dramatic presentation are linked to the Medieval Germ
Goya expresses the greater importance of this composition through the larger size of the figures, compared to its companion work, Tobias and the Angel (P07856). The wood shavings on the floor indicate that the scene takes place in Saint Joseph´s austere carpentry shop. The Virgin and Saint Joseph —holding his flowering staff— sadly reflect on their child´s destiny, which is foreshadowed by the woo
Shortly after his arrival in Spain in 1753, Giaquinto embarked on a series of eight canvases on scenes from the Passion for the King’s Oratory in the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid. The series also included the altarpiece, which depicted The Holy Trinity (P-5444). Christ is brought before Pilate who, seated in the background, aims to achieve a balance between his own opinion regarding the innocence
Piombo was the Italian painter most in demand by Spanish clients during the first half of the sixteenth century. Fernando de Silva, Count of Cifuentes and ambassador to Rome from 1533 to 1536, commissioned him to paint Christ carrying the Cross, which is now at the Hermitage Museum and is extraordinarily similar to the present work. The Prado´s work is less dramatic, in part because here, Christ i
Renaissance painting abounds with representations of Christ bearing the cross on the road to Calvary, either as an isolated figure, or with an executioner assailing him, or accompanied by soldiers, curious bystanders and followers, among whom the depiction of Simon of Cyrene is relatively common. According to three of the evangelists (Matthew 27:32-33, Mark 15:21-22, and Luke 23:26-27), Simon carr
The theme of this triptych is the advent of salvation -a message about the universality of Redemption. The Eucharistic meaning inherent in the theme of Saint Gregory’s Mass is also found in The Adoration of the Magi in the wheat stored in the upper part of the hut, above the figure of the Antichrist. Unusually, Bosch includes in his depiction of the Mass of Saint Gregory in semi-grisaille seven Pa
The painting is based on an iconographic model created by the painter’s father, Dirk Bouts, but interpreted with greater intensity and realism due to the influence of Hugo van der Goes. The image was used for meditation and shows Christ crowned with thorns wich make blood flow from his head. The blood mixes with the tears on his face.
Saint Paul fell from his horse as he heard Christ’s words “Why persecutest thou me?” which brought about his conversion. Murillo’s interpretation is notably dynamic, making use of the contrast between the area only occupied by the glow of light and the figure of Christ, and the crowded group of Saint Paul and his companions, set against a dark background.
La escena podría ser ilustración del sentimiento religioso sevillano; quizá el encargo le fuese solicitado al pintor para satisfacer determinadas necesidades devocionales concretas, y para ello ha utilizado recursos compositivos, de técnica y de iluminación, que insisten en realzar el carácter terrible del pasaje aquí representado de la Pasión de Cristo. No se trata de una composición sencilla; co
Ecce Homo and The Virgin Dolorosa (P977) are comparable with regard to size, provenance and their partial dependence on models by Titian. Above all, they are linked by their subject matter and are most effective and expressive if seen as a pair, when it becomes evident that the Virgin’s grief arises from her contemplation of her son’s suffering.
Various figures surround Christ and mock him. An armed soldier and an executioner place the Crown of Thorns on his head while another offers him a cane as his scepter. The scene is contemplated by two other figures through a window. This work from Van Dyck’s youth is strongly influenced by Venetian painting, and in fact, Jesus’ figure is directly based on a model by Titian. The composition, with C
This painting is a slight variation of the central panel in the predella of the Don Álvaro de Luna Altar Piece which is in the Toledo cathedral (doc. 1488). Mary, helped by Saint John and Nicodemus, is in front of the cross holding her dead son. Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene and two Marys also show their sorrow. This painting is a pair with The Virgin of Milk (P-1289).