The Angel before the Grave
1650
oil
panel
From the collection of Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
About the artist
Artist
Francisco Rizi
Francisco Rizi (1614–1685) was an artist, born in Madrid.
See the richer artist page1650
oil
panel
From the collection of Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
Dominant colour
The Angel before the Grave is a 1650 oil by Francisco Rizi, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
The painting depicts an angel sitting on a grave, holding a staff in their right hand. The angel is dressed in a dark robe with a white cloth draped over their left leg. The background is dark, with a halo of light around the angel's head. The angel's face is turned to the left, and their expression is somber. The staff they hold is long and thin, with a rounded top. The grave beneath them is simple, with no visible markings or decorations. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a sense of depth and contrast, drawing the viewer's eye to the angel's face and the staff they hold. To learn more about the artist's use of this technique, look up Francisco Rizi.
Francisco Rizi (1614–1685) was an artist, born in Madrid.
See the richer artist page
