French school from the beginning of the 17th century, the lamentation of Ch

French school from the beginning of the 17th century, the lamentation of Christ

Re-lined canvas of 100 cm by 100 cm
Frame of 121 cm by 121 cm

This superb painting offers us a lamentation of Christ in a rich palette of light colors. Our research leads us to the French school of the early 17th century around Jacques de Létin (1597; 1661) and Frère Luc (1615; 1685). The presence of the MEI monogram at the bottom right, although old (under old varnish) seems to us reported. Possibly a later attribution to Bernardino Mei (1615; 1676).

The Lamentation or Lamentation of Christ

The Lamentation of Christ or Lamentation of Christ is an episode of the Passion of Christ that takes place at the end of the Passion (Dies Passionis Domini) and has given rise to multiple iconographic interpretations from the top Middle Ages in the West and in the eleventh century in Byzantine art. The theme treated is that of Jesus Christ after the descent from the cross and before his burial and therefore features (Luke, XXIII, 49) his mother, the holy women, the apostle John and often other characters who had previously present at the foot of the cross, such as Joseph of Arimathea, Nicomedes, sometimes angels, but also and more broadly the patron saints of the abbeys who sponsored the work. This scene from the Passion of Christ is a very popular depiction of Christian art. Jesus is represented dead, the extended limbs bear wounds, proof of the sufferings endured. We can evoke a more symbolic meaning, the pain of the characters surrounding Christ echoing a message of compassion and empathy for human suffering.