Artwork
Resurrection of Christ
Resurrection of Christ is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Samuel van Hoogstraten. It dates from 1667 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Samuel van Hoogstraten’s Resurrection of Christ (1667) is an oil painting held by the Art Institute of Chicago. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work presents a dramatic moment from the New Testament, rendered with a striking contrast of light and shadow that emphasizes the central figure’s emergence from the ground.
Subject & Meaning
At the composition’s core stands a partially clothed, curly‑haired Christ, hovering just above the earth. To his left, an angelic figure in gold and red reaches outward, while on the right a kneeling woman looks upward in astonishment. A fallen soldier, his armor and weapons discarded, underscores the triumph of the risen savior over death.
Technique & Style
Van Hoogstraten employs chiaroscuro, using deep, enveloping darkness to frame illuminated forms. The luminous gold of the winged attendant and the bright flesh of Christ emerge sharply against the tenebrous background, creating a three‑dimensional effect that heightens the spiritual drama. The brushwork remains refined, typical of Dutch oil practice in the mid‑17th century.
History & Provenance
Painted in 1667, the canvas reflects van Hoogstraten’s dual reputation as a painter and a theorist of visual perception. After passing through private collections, the work entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings, where it remains part of the museum’s European paintings department, accessible for study and public viewing.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (2 August 1627 in Dordrecht – 19 October 1678 in Dordrecht) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, who was also a poet and author on art theory.
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