Artwork
Christ in the grave with saints
Christ in the grave with saints is a paint painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Carlo Crivelli. It is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Christ in the Grave with Saints is a religious painting by Carlo Crivelli, created in the early Baroque Italian style with lingering Late Gothic decorative elements. Executed in paint, it is now part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a somber scene of Christ's entombment, centrally placing his body within a semi-circular arrangement of mourning saints. Their varied poses and expressive faces convey a unified mood of lamentation and reverence.
Technique & Style
Crivelli's detailed and realistic approach is evident in the intricate folds of the saints' robes and the emotional depth of their faces. A muted color palette, emphasizing earth tones and dark blues, reinforces the overall sense of sadness.
History & Provenance
Created during Crivelli's mature period, after his relocation to the March of Ancona by 1458, the work reflects influences from his Veneto beginnings, notably from artists like the Vivarini, Squarcione, and Mantegna.
Context
While labeled as early Baroque, the painting retains strong Late Gothic decorative traits, situating it at a stylistic crossroads in Italian Renaissance art.
Legacy
As part of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin's collection, Christ in the Grave with Saints remains a significant example of Crivelli's work, offering insight into the transitional styles of the Italian Renaissance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo Crivelli (c. 1430 – c. 1495) was an Italian Renaissance painter of conservative Late Gothic decorative sensibility, who spent his early years in the Veneto, where he absorbed influences from the Vivarini,…
