Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Bernardino Zaganelli. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the biblical scene of Christ’s mournful aftermath following the crucifixion, a common devotional subject in early sixteenth‑century Italian religious painting. Zaganelli emphasizes the emotional intensity of Mary and other figures gathered around the dead body, using composition and gesture to heighten spiritual contemplation.
Technique & Style
The surface retains its original varnish and shows no significant damage, indicating stable condition suitable for continued display.
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 69 cm by 62.5 cm. It portrays the Lamentation of Christ in a tightly composed, emotionally charged scene rendered in a restrained Renaissance style, with careful attention to spatial depth and figure modeling. The surface retains its original varnish and shows no significant damage, indicating stable condition suitable for continued display.
History & Provenance
The painting known as the Lamentation of Christ was created by Bernardino Zaganelli around the year 1500. Executed in oil paint on a panel, the work measures 69 cm in height and 62.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The piece depicts the religious subject of the Lamentation of Christ, focusing on the figure of Jesus Christ.
Bernardino Zaganelli's oil painting, Lamentation of Christ, dated to 1500, is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The work is executed on panel and measures 69 cm in height by 62.5 cm in width. While the painting is currently part of the museum's holdings, the provided sources do not specify an inventory or accession number, nor do they detail any specific exhibition history for the piece.
Overview
Created circa 1500 by the Italian early‑Renaissance painter Bernardino Zaganelli, this oil on panel portrays the traditional Lamentation of Christ. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies the devotional genre that visualized the mourning of Jesus after his crucifixion.
Context
The Lamentation scene was a common motif in Christian art, serving both liturgical and meditative purposes. Zaganelli’s rendition aligns with contemporary Italian interpretations that emphasized human emotion and the intimate proximity of the mourners to the divine figure.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino Zaganelli (Italian pronunciation: ), also Bernardino di Bosio Zaganelli and Bernardino da Cotignola, (1460-1470 – 1510) was an Italian painter, of the Renaissance period.
