Description
The artwork depicting Jesus Christ was painted by the renowned Italian High Renaissance artist Raphael.
The Blessing Christ was influenced by Leonardo, one of the great masters during the High Renaissance period. Raphael worked on this painting while he was in Florence, Italy, a city regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance movement. Since 1851, this painting has been housed in the Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo in Brescia.
The painting shows a resurrected Christ emerging from the tomb. He bears the marks of the Passion and wears the crown of thorns on his head. His body still carries the wounds of the torture he endured just before dying on the cross.
The artist depicts Christ in a dark red garment, which is significant because it represents the blood he shed on the instrument of torment before his death. Similarities have been noted between Raphael’s physical features and Christ’s in this painting. Raphael used oil on panel to create this work of art. By using the oil painting technique, he was able to emphasize the clarity of form and capture the rich range of colors he wanted to use. The subject highlighted in this painting is religious, as the death and resurrection of Jesus are central events in the faith. Through his painting, he therefore expresses his faith in Jesus.