Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Carlo Maratta (Camerano 1625 – Rome 1713), circle
The Angel of the Resurrection appears to the soldiers
Oil on canvas mounted on panel 58 x 67 cm. – with frame 77 x 86 cm.
The painting in question, with its dramatic composition that gives the figures a three-dimensional prominence, depicts an episode from the Resurrection which, as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 28:1–7), sees an angel announcing the Resurrection of Jesus to the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb.
The event is described as a powerful earthquake, caused by the descent of the angel of the Lord from heaven, who rolls away the stone sealing the tomb, opening it, and causing an explosion of light and flashes so powerful as to throw the frightened guards to the ground.
The angel, described as having a dazzling appearance with large white wings and light-coloured robes, stands in contrast to the soldiers’ dark armour and red cloaks: he represents the power of God who defeats death and therefore does not interact directly with men, who are awed by his divine majesty.
The painting stands out for the gentleness of the image and for the sense of divinity one feels in the presence of the angelic, supernatural figure, which the painter has managed to immortalise with delicacy and charm.
The angel’s face, serene and victorious, looks down but points his finger towards the Light, in contrast to the poses of the soldiers thrown to the ground, which effectively convey agitation and dismay. From a stylistic point of view, the work in question is to be attributed to an artist close to the master Carlo Maratta (Camerano 1625 – Rome 1713), one of the greatest exponents of 17th-century classicism, or to an artist active in his flourishing workshop.
Regarded as the spiritual heir to Raphael and Annibale Carracci, Maratta developed a style that balanced the impetus of the Baroque with the classical taste of drawing, two contrasting trends which he managed to reconcile with surprising results, particularly in his religious works.
Delevery information :
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Should you have the desire to see this or other works in person, we would be happy to welcome you to our gallery in Riva del Garda, Viale Giuseppe Canella 18, we are always open by appointment only.
