Follower of Anthoon Van Dyck, Lamentation of Christ, 1720, Oil on Canvas, Framed

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Description

Lamentation of Christ
Follower of Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641)
Late 17th-early 18th century
Oil on canvas … Read more Lamentation of Christ
Follower of Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641)
Late 17th-early 18th century
Oil on canvas (64 x 51 cm - Framed 77 x 65 cm)

This is a very interesting work, a Flemish painting that recreates the famous Lamentation of Christ, painted by Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641) between 1628 and 1629 for the high altar of the Begijnhof Church in Antwerp, now housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. The canvas was later reproduced in a smaller version, now at the Prado Museum.

The scene, which depicts one of the most dramatic and emotional moments of Christ's Passion, displays the great Flemish artist's typical style: Christ is reclining, his vigorous, sculptural body emphasizing his weeping, while the Magdalene weeps over him, kissing his hand, and the Madonna, at his side, gazes disconsolately toward heaven. Finally, Saint John arrives to join in this chorus of grief.

The iconography of our Lamentation, like Van Dyck's entire series, became emblematic of this poetics. The composition's fulcrum is the wounded hand, kissed by the Magdalene, and the work's theme is a meditation on Christ's Passion, also evoked by the instruments of torture in the foreground.

As for the authorship of the proposed canvas, the artist can be traced back to the great master's followers, active after the creation of the large altarpiece, to satisfy some patrons who wished to have their own version.

Despite his clearly Italianate style, Van Dyck adopted many of the pictorial schemes of his teacher Rubens in his compositions, reflecting the intense formative influence and close collaboration between the two artists in the early years of his career.

This entire commission of influences is thus evident in this painting: through a high-level figurative language, we can therefore discern the influences of Italian art, particularly the Venetian compositions of Titian, Tintoretto, and Correggio, as well as the figurative language of the Bolognese school of the Carracci, Guercino, and Guido Reni.

Throughout his artistic career, Van Dyck explored the theme of the Lamentation of Christ on several occasions, from around 1617 until 1636, when it was subsequently taken up by his workshop and numerous followers.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is sold with a beautiful frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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