Artwork
Christ rescuing St Peter from the waves
Christ rescuing St Peter from the waves is a watercolor work on paper by Richard Dadd. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Christ rescuing St Peter from the waves is a watercolour painting created by Richard Dadd in 1850, portraying a pivotal moment of divine intervention.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates the biblical episode of Christ saving Peter from drowning after the apostle's faith falters. The scene highlights themes of faith, doubt, and redemption through divine rescue.
Technique & Style
Dadd employs watercolour to capture a dramatic, turbulent sea. The composition focuses attention on the rescue, with vivid colour and expressive brushwork conveying urgency and emotion.
History & Provenance
Created in 1850, specific details about the painting's history and ownership prior to its current location are not provided in the available information.
Context
This work reflects Dadd's engagement with religious themes, common in 19th-century art, yet stands out due to its watercolour medium and the artist's distinctive approach to capturing emotional depth.
Legacy
While not widely discussed in broad art historical narratives, the painting remains a notable example of Dadd's oeuvre, illustrating his capacity to evoke powerful narratives through watercolour.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Dadd (1 August 1817 – 7 January 1886) was an English painter of the Victorian era, noted for his depictions of fairies and other supernatural subjects, Orientalist scenes, and enigmatic genre scenes, rendered with obsessively…
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