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Christ descending into Hell

Violet Oakley

1914

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Post-Impressionism Early Modern Religious

Dominant colour

Christ descending into Hell is a 1914 watercolor by Violet Oakley, a Post-Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Violet Oakley
When & what style?: 1914 · Post-Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting depicts a scene from Christian mythology, with Christ descending into Hell. He is shown in a white robe, kneeling and reaching out to souls trapped in a dark, cave-like space. The background is a deep blue, with a cross and stars visible in the distance. The painting features a mix of warm and cool colors, with the blues and purples of the background contrasting with the warm tones of Christ's robe. The overall effect is one of drama and tension, as Christ reaches out to rescue the souls from the darkness. If you're interested in learning more about the artist behind this work, you might want to look up Oakley, Violet.

The story of this work

Overview

A pen, pencil, and watercolor study by Violet Oakley from 1914 depicts Christ descending into Hell, serving as a preparatory work for a detail in the mural *The Slave Ship Ransomed*, part of the series *The Creation and Preservation of the Union* (1911–20) located in the Senate Chamber of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, Harrisburg.

Read the full account in the museum source.