Specimens of Polyautography: The Angel at the Tomb of Christ
1801
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
About the artist
1801
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Specimens of Polyautography: The Angel at the Tomb of Christ is a 1801 by Benjamin West, a Romanticism work, depicting Putto, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows an angel at the tomb of Christ. It's a quiet moment, with the angel looking sad. The artist used simple colors to convey emotion, which is interesting because it was done in a time when many paintings were very detailed. The artist was American, but worked in England, which is a unique aspect of his career. He was part of a larger group of artists who were experimenting with new styles. You can learn more about similar techniques by looking into chiaroscuro.
