Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is a paint painting by the Early Renaissance artist Jacopo da Sellaio. It is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1500 by the Florentine painter Jacopo del Sellaio, the work portrays the biblical Lamentation of Christ. Executed in tempera, the composition centers on a grieving woman holding the dead Christ, surrounded by mourners and an angelic presence. The painting belongs to the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures the moment after the Crucifixion when Christ’s body is mourned. A woman in dark robes cradles the lifeless figure, while a bishop-like figure with a staff and a kneeling supplicant flank her. An angel hovers above, underscoring the sacred nature of the event and inviting contemplation of loss and redemption.
Technique & Style
Del Sellaio employs tempera on panel, using pronounced chiaroscuro to model the figures and generate a dramatic spatial depth. The arrangement follows a triangular scheme that guides the eye toward the central female figure. Stylistic elements echo the influence of Botticelli, Filippino Lippi, and Ghirlandaio, evident in the delicate modeling of faces and the ornamental detailing of garments.
History & Provenance
Active in early Renaissance Florence, Sellaio worked in a workshop linked to Fra Filippo Lippi and joined the Florentine painters’ confraternity in 1460. The painting later entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, where it remains on display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo del Sellaio (1441/42–1493) was an Italian painter of the early Renaissance, active in his native Florence.
