Artwork
The Entombment
The Entombment is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Guercino. It dates from 1656 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 86323
- Credit line
- Wilson L. Mead Fund
About this work
Overview
The Entombment is an oil on canvas painting by Guercino, depicting a somber scene of Christ being laid to rest, characterized by restraint and emotional depth despite compositional constraints.
Subject & Meaning
The painting illustrates a moment of mourning, focusing on Christ and a limited group of attendants. The somber tone conveys the emotional gravity of the event.
Technique & Style
Guercino employed chiaroscuro to enhance emotional depth, achieving expressive restraint through carefully composed figures, limited in number by the patron's budget.
History & Provenance
Guercino's account books reveal the patron's specific payment for one full-length, one bust-length, and three half-length figures, highlighting the artist's adaptability to financial constraints.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
