01
The risen Christ
Look high in the dark sky. Christ floats nearly nude, one arm flung wide, the brightest and calmest body in a scene of panic.
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“Witness the dramatic moment of Christ's resurrection, where divine light pierces the darkness and Roman guards react in awe and terror. This Baroque masterpiece by Adriaen van der Werff captures intense emotion and meticulous detail.”
ABOUT THIS WORK
In Adriaen van der Werff's "The Resurrection," Christ ascends from his tomb, bathed in a celestial light that cuts through the dramatic gloom. The scene is a powerful blend of theatricality and reverence, with Roman soldiers recoiling in various states of shock and awe. One soldier shields his eyes, another tumbles backward, while still others are caught in a deep slumber, oblivious to the divine event unfolding. This painting, created in 1713, belongs to the Baroque period, a style known for its intense emotion and dynamic compositions. The artist, who also worked as an architect, was known for his meticulously rendered devotional and mythological scenes, often for royal patrons like Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine.
DETAILS
- Artist
- Adriaen van der Werff
- Date
- 1713
- Location
- Bavarian State Painting Collections
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What to Notice
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02
The angel on the stone
The winged angel sits on the tilted tomb slab, one hand resting on it. He looks out calmly while the soldiers react around him. The slab suggests the stone has been moved aside.
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03
Soldier shielding his face
On the right, a soldier in a blue-green tunic throws up a hand to shield his face and lurches back, caught mid-stride.
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04
Fallen guards
At the bottom, guards sprawl on the ground with arms flung out. Their tumbled poses set earthly chaos against the calm figure above.
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05Whole painting
Light out of darkness
Christ and the angel stand out against a dark, shadowed landscape. The smooth, polished finish gives their skin a porcelain-like sheen.
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THE ARTIST
Adriaen van der Werff
1659–1722 · Dutch RepublicAdriaen van der Werff, a Dutch master, rose from Rotterdam to become court painter to the Elector Palatine, captivating European royalty with his refined Baroque scenes.
MORE FROM THIS ARTIST
Further Works by van der Werff
1 / 2
The Annunciation
1706 · Bavarian State Painting Collections
Venus and Cupid
1684 · Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
Venus and Cupid
1699 · Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
Shepherd and shepherdess
1706 · Galleria Sabauda
Adam and Eve
1711 · Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum
Penitent Magdalene
1712 · Gemäldegalerie Berlin
Venus and Cupid
1716 · Czartoryski Museum
Venus and Amor
1684 · Bavarian State Painting Collections
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