Artwork
The Resurrection of Christ
The Resurrection of Christ is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Master of the Virgo inter Virgines. It is held in the collection of the Jacques Goudstikker collection. Created in 1596 on a wooden panel, this religious work portrays the moment of Christ’s rising from the tomb.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject’s meaning centers on the promise of salvation and the hope of resurrection, themes that were especially potent in the late Renaissance period.
The Resurrection of Christ depicts the risen Jesus emerging triumphantly from the tomb, a central iconographic representation of victory over death in Christian art. The composition emphasizes the divine nature of Christ through his upward gaze and outstretched hands, symbolizing resurrection and eternal life. As a religious painting from 1590, the work belongs to the broader tradition of Counter-Reformation imagery that sought to convey theological truths through vivid visual narratives.
The subject’s meaning centers on the promise of salvation and the hope of resurrection, themes that were especially potent in the late Renaissance period. The painting’s provenance, including ownership by Jacques Goudstikker and later inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection, underscores its historical significance and continued resonance as a devotional image.
Technique & Style
The Resurrection of Christ is an oil painting on panel, measuring approximately 88 × 51 cm. Created in 1590, the work belongs to the religious genre and is attributed to the Master of the Virgo inter Virgines, a Northern Netherlandish painter active in the late 16th century. The panel support and oil medium are consistent with Dutch painting practices of the period. The work is executed in the manner of this master, suggesting stylistic alignment with the artist's known oeuvre while leaving open questions of direct attribution. The painting depicts the resurrected Jesus Christ as its central subject.
History & Provenance
Created around 1590, this oil painting on panel depicts the Resurrection of Christ and is attributed to the Master of the Virgo inter Virgines. The work features an image of Saint Clement on its reverse side.
The painting's ownership history includes possession by the dealer Jacques Goudstikker before being acquired by Hermann Göring. Following its recovery from the Munich Central Collecting Point after the war, the artwork was managed by the Instituut Collectie Nederland and the Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit. It currently resides in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The work is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it entered through the post-war restitution of the Goudstikker collection.
Its inventory number is SK-C-1833.
It was restituted to the Goudstikker heirs in 1998 and subsequently transferred to the Rijksmuseum, which now displays it under the title The Resurrection of Christ.
Overview
Created in 1596 on a wooden panel, this religious work portrays the moment of Christ’s rising from the tomb. The composition centers on a figure of Jesus in a vivid red robe, clutching a cross, while four armored men occupy the foreground, three prostrate and one standing apart. A tranquil landscape of trees, hills and a clear sky forms the backdrop, lending depth through light and shadow.
Context
The painting emerges from a late‑15th‑century Northern European milieu where devotional images served both liturgical and private contemplation. Its realistic treatment aligns with contemporary trends toward naturalism, while its compositional drama echoes the Mannerist shift toward heightened emotional expression.
Artist & collection
Artist
Master of the Virgo inter Virgines
The Master of the Virgo inter Virgines was an Early Netherlandish painter and designer of woodcuts active around Delft between 1483 and 1498.
The Resurrection
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