Artwork

The resurrection of Christ

The resurrection of Christ, by Unknown, oil, 1540
The resurrection of Christ, by Unknown, oil, 1540

The resurrection of Christ is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Unknown. It dates from 1540 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

His raised right hand often signifies triumph over death, while the banner he holds represents victory and the promise of salvation.

The work depicts the Resurrection of Jesus, showing Christ emerging from an open sarcophagus as the central figure. His raised right hand often signifies triumph over death, while the banner he holds represents victory and the promise of salvation. The tomb’s architectural framing and the soldiers’ stunned postures underscore the miraculous nature of the event.

The composition emphasizes the theological assertion of Christ’s victory over sin and death, aligning with Counter-Reformation devotional aims to reaffirm core Christian doctrine.

Technique & Style

The Resurrection of Christ is an oil painting executed on an oak panel support. Created in 1540, the work measures 53.6 cm in height and 44.5 cm in width. As a religious painting classified within the genre of religious art, the piece depicts the main subject of the Resurrection of Jesus.

The physical medium consists of oil paint applied to the wooden panel, a common technique for works of this period and classification held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

History & Provenance

The painting titled The resurrection of Christ was created in 1540 as an oil on oak panel work portraying the risen Jesus Christ. It was produced by an anonymous artist identified in scholarship as Monogrammist MS and entered the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, where it remains on display at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The work measures 53.6 centimeters in height and 44.5 centimeters in width.

Its creation is dated to the early sixteenth century, aligning with the stylistic period of German religious art from that era.

The painting is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek. Created in 1540 by the Monogrammist MS, the work is executed in oil paint on an oak panel measuring 53.6 cm in height and 44.5 cm in width. The provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number, nor do they contain records of any past or current exhibitions for this piece.

Context

The Resurrection of Christ, painted in 1540 by the Monogrammist MS for the Bavarian State Painting Collections, exemplifies High Renaissance religious art through its use of oil paint on oak panel. The work, housed in the Alte Pinakothek, depicts the risen Christ and reflects the period's theological engagement with resurrection narratives. Scholarship situates the painting within the broader context of 16th-century German art, where devotional imagery reinforced Counter-Reformation themes through formal composition and emotive realism.

Legacy

The painting influenced Baroque religious art through its depiction of the Resurrection of Jesus, which was studied by later artists for its composition and emotional intensity. Its technical innovation with oil paint on oak panel demonstrated new approaches to texture and light that were emulated in subsequent devotional works. The work remained in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek, preserving its accessibility for scholarly study and public exhibition.

Overview

The Resurrection of Christ is an oil painting depicting a dramatic scene with three figures in a dimly lit setting.

Die Opferung Isaaks (Replik?)
Die Opferung Isaaks (Replik?), Claes Corneliszoon Moeyaert

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The resurrection of Christ?

The resurrection of Christ was painted by Unknown in 1540.

Where can I see The resurrection of Christ?

The resurrection of Christ is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is The resurrection of Christ?

The resurrection of Christ is associated with Mannerism.