Artwork
The dead Christ supported by an Angel

The dead Christ supported by an Angel is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Alonso Cano. It dates from 1646 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a religious genre piece, the imagery serves to evoke spiritual reflection on the Passion and the sorrow of the moment after Christ's death.
Alonso Cano's oil painting depicts the dead Christ being supported by an angel, a composition rooted in religious art traditions. The work focuses on the physical presence of the deceased Jesus alongside a celestial figure, emphasizing themes of mourning and divine companionship following the Crucifixion. As a religious genre piece, the imagery serves to evoke spiritual reflection on the Passion and the sorrow of the moment after Christ's death. The depiction of these two figures creates a intimate, devotional scene characteristic of 17th-century Spanish religious painting.
Technique & Style
Alonso Cano executed this religious composition using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 178.3 cm in height and 119.8 cm in width. Stylistically, the painting depicts the figure of Jesus Christ being supported by an angel, adhering to the conventions of religious art from the period.
The handling of the medium allows for the detailed rendering of the sacred subjects within the defined spatial parameters of the canvas.
History & Provenance
Alonso Cano executed The Dead Christ Supported by an Angel in 1646. Created as a religious work, the painting utilizes oil paint on canvas and measures 178.3 cm in height by 119.8 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain.
The artwork eventually entered the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains housed within the Royal Palace complex. Its significance within the Spanish Golden Age was highlighted through its inclusion in the exhibition titled El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez.
The painting is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it is cataloged under the inventory number P00629. The work was originally owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain. It has been included in the exhibition history titled 'El Siglo de Oro. The Age of Velázquez'.
Overview
Alonso Cano’s oil painting, dated 1646, presents a solemn scene in which a lifeless Christ is upheld by an angel. The work resides in Madrid’s Museo del Prado and exemplifies the artist’s engagement with religious subjects during the Spanish Baroque period.
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