Artwork
Lamentation of Christ
Lamentation of Christ is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Peter Paul Rubens. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Joseph of Arimathea kneels to Christ’s right, holding the crown of thorns and nails, while a woman in the background dries her tears with a cloth.
The work depicts the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion narrative in which Christ’s body is mourned after the Crucifixion. Mary cradles Jesus’s lifeless form at the center, while John the Evangelist and other holy figures gather in grief. Joseph of Arimathea kneels to Christ’s right, holding the crown of thorns and nails, while a woman in the background dries her tears with a cloth. These elements emphasize sorrow, sacrifice, and the fulfillment of prophecy within Christian salvation history.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on panel in 1614, the work measures 40.5 × 52.5 cm and belongs to the genre of religious painting. Rubens employs a fluid handling of oil paint to model the figures with warm chiaroscuro, emphasizing the volumetric drapery and the weight of Christ’s body. The composition is organized around a diagonal axis descending from the upper left toward the Virgin’s lap, directing attention to the lifeless form of Christ.
Subtle tonal gradations and delicate highlights animate the flesh and textiles, while the background remains softly atmospheric, focusing attention on the central drama of grief.
History & Provenance
Peter Paul Rubens created the oil painting Lamentation of Christ in 1614. The work was executed on a wood panel measuring 40.5 by 52.5 centimeters. It depicts the religious subject of the lamentation over the body of Jesus Christ. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains located.
The Lamentation of Christ by Peter Paul Rubens is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Created in 1614, this oil painting on panel depicts the mourning of Jesus Christ. The work measures 40.5 cm in height and 52.5 cm in width.
The provided sources do not contain information regarding a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they list any exhibitions in which the painting has been displayed.
Overview
Lamentation of Christ, a 1614 oil painting by Peter Paul Rubens, exemplifies the Flemish Baroque style. The work is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection.
Context
As a leading figure in the Flemish Baroque, Rubens drew upon classical and Christian themes, emphasizing movement, rich color, and sensuality in his compositions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ROO-bənz; Dutch:; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and diplomat.
