The Resurrection of Christ, holding a banner in his right hand, soldiers surrounding the tomb, some falling away
Original title: The resurrection of Christ, holding a banner in his right hand, soldiers surrounding the tomb, some falling away
kurzbeschreibung
Giulio Bonasone's 1561 etching with engraving presents the Resurrection of Christ. Christ stands at the center, a banner held in his right hand, while soldiers around the tomb tumble to the ground. The print renders the biblical event in the visual language of the Renaissance.
Description
Bathed in bright light, Christ stands against a radiant field crossed by the sign of the cross, raising the banner with his right hand. Soldiers are grouped around him in varied poses: some lie on the ground, others stand armed, looking weary or at a loss. Grass and earth cover the ground; the arrangement is animated and guides the eye firmly toward Christ. Light falls on him from behind, underscoring his role, while the staging stays dramatic. The gray tonal range comes from etching and engraving.
Context
The Italian Giulio Bonasone worked as a copperplate engraver in the sixteenth century and became known above all for reproductive prints after Raphael and other Renaissance masters. He made this sheet in Rome in 1561, where he worked for various papal patrons. It belongs to a series of Passion scenes of the kind common at the time. The subject follows the established iconography of the Resurrection as it was usual in the Renaissance.
Impact
The light falling from behind and the figures' restless poses create a mood both dramatic and solemn. Delicate lines and careful execution give the sheet high aesthetic quality and draw the viewer into the biblical event.
Technique
Etching combined with additional engraving allows fine linework and precise rendering of detail. The monochrome gray effect arises in the printing process, in which the etched and engraved lines take up the ink. Light and shadow can thus be modeled with nuance, heightening the drama of the scene.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)