Artwork
Susanna and the Elders
Susanna and the Elders is a paint painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Pieter Lastman. It dates from 1614 and is held in the collection of the Bode Museum.
About this work
Overview
Susanna and the Elders (1614) is a religious genre painting by Pieter Lastman, a Dutch artist associated with the early Baroque Italian movement. The work captures a tense biblical scene in a highly detailed and expressive manner.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the biblical figure Susanna, seated and partially draped, confronted by two older men (the Elders) in a moment of palpable tension. This scene, based on the apocryphal story of Susanna, explores themes of virtue, temptation, and accusation.
Technique & Style
Lastman's meticulous attention to facial expressions, hands, and feet is characteristic of his style. The painting employs strong chiaroscuro, leveraging contrasting light and shadow to emphasize the emotional intensity of the scene, particularly on the figures' faces and the textures of their clothing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1614, Susanna and the Elders is now part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it remains a significant example of early Baroque religious painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Lastman (1583–1633) was a Dutch painter. Lastman is considered important because of his work as a painter of history pieces and because his pupils included Rembrandt and Jan Lievens. In his paintings Lastman paid…
