17th Century, 17th Century Period

This poignant work depicts Christ praying on the Mount of Olives, at the solemn moment when, in the solitude of the night, an angel appears to him and offers him the chalice of suffering. The composition, of great sobriety, highlights the inner tension of Christ in the face of his destiny. The scene is bathed in a supernatural light, emanating from the celestial figure and enveloping the face of Christ, according to an aesthetic specific to the Italian school of the 17th century, marked by spirituality and chiaroscuro. The red of the tunic and the softness of the modeling contrast with the dramatic half-light of the background, in a marked Baroque vein. The work presents structural accidents (cracks in the panel), as well as visible losses to the pictorial layer, notably in the dark areas of the background and on certain parts of the garment. These alterations, far from weakening the composition, contribute to its authenticity and dramatic intensity. 17th century Italian school Christ on the Mount of Olives Oil on panel H. 50 cm – W. 68 cm (without frame) We have not carried out further research, but it is likely that a great 17th century master is at the origin of this work, both in terms of the quality of the execution and the theological and emotional depth that emerges from it. A very fine example of devotional painting from the Seicento, at once sober, intense and moving.