Artwork
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels is a copper painting by the Mannerist artist Bartholomeus Spranger. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels, created by Bartholomeus Spranger in 1587, is executed as a painting on a copper support.
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels, created by Bartholomeus Spranger in 1587, is executed as a painting on a copper support. This choice of metal plate distinguishes the work from traditional panel or canvas paintings of the religious genre. The use of copper allowed for a smooth, non-absorbent surface that facilitated the artist's handling of fine details and vibrant pigments typical of the late sixteenth-century style. The artwork is currently part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels was created in 1587 by the artist Bartholomeus Spranger. Executed on a copper support, this religious painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work dates specifically to the year 1587, marking its inception during Spranger's active period.
The painting The Body of Christ Supported by Angels by Bartholomeus Spranger is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum and is catalogued under the accession number SK-A-2269. It was created in 1587 as a religious work on copper and has been exhibited at the Rijksmuseum as part of its permanent display of Dutch and Flemish masters.
Context
Bartholomeus Spranger's 1587 copper painting The Body of Christ Supported by Angels occupies a pivotal position within Northern Mannerist religious art, reflecting Counter-Reformation emphases on divine humanity through its delicate angelic support of Christ's corpse. Art historians situate it at the intersection of Spranger's broader oeuvre in Prague court patronage and the stylistic dialogue with contemporaries like Bartholomäus Bruckner, while its provenance at the Rijksmuseum anchors its significance within Dutch Golden Age collections of continental European masters. The work's reception history engages scholarly discussions of angelic intercession in post-Tridentine devotional imagery, particularly regarding Spranger's synthesis of Italian influences with Northern traditions in service of Habsburg spiritual politics.
Overview
The Body of Christ Supported by Angels is a 1594 painting on copper by Bartholomeus Spranger, a Flemish artist associated with the Northern Mannerist style.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the lifeless body of Christ being supported by angels, conveying a sense of sorrow and reverence. The scene is set against a dark, rocky background, with the figures illuminated by a soft glow.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bartholomeus Spranger or Bartholomaeus Spranger (21 March 1546 – 27 June 1611) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, sculptor, and designer of prints.
