Artwork
Christ Instructing Peter and John to Prepare for the Passover
Christ Instructing Peter and John to Prepare for the Passover is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Vincenzo Civerchio. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
A biblical scene of Christ with Saint Peter and John the Apostle. Vincenzo Civerchio painted it in 1504, early in a career we know little about, though his handling of color already shows real skill.
Subject & Meaning
The figures of Jesus Christ, Saint Peter, and John the Apostle are clearly identifiable.
This painting depicts the biblical moment when Christ instructs the apostles Peter and John to prepare for the Passover meal, an episode that precedes the Last Supper. The figures of Jesus Christ, Saint Peter, and John the Apostle are clearly identifiable. The work belongs to the genre of religious art, intended for devotional contemplation.
Its subject underscores themes of obedience and preparation, leading into the institution of the Eucharist, though the sources do not elaborate on specific iconographic symbols or deeper theological meanings.
History & Provenance
Dated to 1504, the painting's earliest recorded provenance suggests it may have originated in an Austrian monastery. By 1937 it was owned jointly by Frederick Mont, Inc. and A.S. Drey of London. In 1947 it was sold, then attributed to Bramantino, to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation in New York.
The Kress Foundation subsequently gifted the work to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1961, where it remains part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection.
The painting is held in the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it entered in 1961 as a gift from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and is part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection. No inventory or accession number is specified in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
This painting, titled Christ Instructing Peter and John to Prepare for the Passover, was created by Vincenzo Civerchio in 1504. Executed in tempera on panel, the work depicts a pivotal moment from the New Testament. It showcases the artist's early abilities, particularly in his handling of color, despite the scarcity of biographical details known about his life during this period. The piece offers insight into his developing artistic practice.
Technique & Style
Civerchio utilized tempera on panel for this painting, a common medium during the early 16th century. This technique, involving pigment mixed with an egg yolk binder, allowed for precise detail and vibrant, luminous colors. The artist's proficiency in manipulating this medium is evident in the work's palette, which demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of color application, particularly notable for an artist early in his professional trajectory.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vincenzo Civerchio or Civercio (c. 1470 – c. 1544) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance, born at Crema, and active also in Brescia, where there are some of his alter-pieces. One of his works is at the National…
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