Christ displaying his wounds
Original title: Christ displaying his wounds
kurzbeschreibung
The risen Christ sits enthroned on a cloud, raising his hands to display the wounds of the crucifixion. Massimiliano Capezzuoli engraved this scene between 1814 and 1843 as a copperplate print and set it within an oval frame. A cross appears behind the figure.
Description
Christ looks out from the image with a grave, withdrawn expression; the raised hands with the visible wounds on the palms form the focal point of the content. A cross is suggested in the background. The rendering stays in shades of grey, which brings out contours and surface texture. The face and the wounds are clearly worked, and the layout concentrates entirely on these two areas.
Context
This engraving was made in the first half of the 19th century, when religious subjects still carried weight in Italian art. A dedication to Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, points to a connection with the Tuscan court. Capezzuoli, an Italian copperplate engraver, was known above all for religious motifs. The inscription below the image names the publication of the print.
Impact
The scene feels solemn and meditative; Christ's calm posture and the restrained colouring contribute to this. The viewer's gaze is drawn to the wounds, which invites sustained religious contemplation.
Technique
For this copperplate engraving the motif was incised into a copper plate and then printed on paper. The grey tones and shadows arise from the linework, which gives the figure a sculptural presence. The sheet measures 46 × 36.5 cm, the printing plate 30.7 × 22.5 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)