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The Giving of Alms

Unknown

1550

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Dominant colour

The Giving of Alms is a 1550 by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1550
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This black-and-white photo shows three people in a tense moment. The person on the left stands barefoot, arms outstretched, as if pleading. In the center, another person holds a staff and looks upward, while the person on the right—wearing a headwrap and robe—reaches out, touching the center figure’s hand. A small child clings to the right figure’s side, watching closely. The lighting is dramatic, with deep shadows and bright spots on faces and cloth. This style makes the figures stand out sharply against the dark background. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create drama in art.