Artwork
The Lamentation (STATIO XIII)
The Lamentation (STATIO XIII) is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Januarius Zick. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1772, *The Lamentation (STATIO XIII)* is a drawing by Johann Rasso Januarius Zick, a German painter and architect associated with the Late‑Baroque. Executed with pen and brush, the work combines black and grey wash, white heightening, and a blue paper ground, resulting in a compact yet expressive composition.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a group of figures gathered around a lifeless body. Two standing individuals hold a cross and a cloth, while the remaining participants kneel or sit, their gazes directed downward. The arrangement suggests a religious mourning scene, likely referencing the biblical lament over Christ.
Technique & Style
Zick employed a loose, gestural approach: dark lines and vigorous brushstrokes contrast with the cool blue support, while selective white highlights accentuate volume. The limited palette of black, grey, and white on blue underscores the dramatic mood and reflects Late‑Baroque preferences for chiaroscuro and emotional immediacy.
History & Provenance
The drawing is catalogued as STATIO XIII within Zick’s oeuvre, dating to the later phase of his career. It remains documented as part of the artist’s body of work that illustrates his dual role as painter and architect, though specific ownership details beyond the original archive are not recorded.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johann Rasso Januarius Zick (6 February 1730 – 14 November 1797) was a German painter and architect. He is considered to be one of the main masters of the Late-Baroque.
The Martyrdom of St. James and St. Christopher
The Death of Hector on the Ramparts of Troy (recto) / Tancred and Erminia (verso)
Ragotin lie par les parents du fou
Décolation de St. Jean (Beheading of Saint John the Baptist)
Moses Striking a Shepherd
The Crucifixion of Polycrates
And from the Tree, We With Her Child Unbound
The Flagellation
Death of a General
The taking down from the Cross
The Descent from the Cross
A Drinking Child with Resting Peasants