Christ before Caiaphas by Palma il Giovane

Christ before Caiaphas 1623

drawing, ink, indian-ink, chalk

drawing

toned paper

baroque

ink painting

pencil sketch

etching

possibly oil pastel

jesus-christ

ink

fluid art

coffee painting

underpainting

indian-ink

chalk

14_17th-century

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This drawing, "Christ before Caiaphas" by Palma il Giovane, is a preparatory sketch for a larger painting of the same subject. The scene depicts the moment when Jesus is brought before Caiaphas, the high priest, and is questioned by his accusers. Palma il Giovane, known for his masterful draftsmanship, skillfully conveys the tension and drama of the moment. The drawing's simplicity of form and use of brown wash emphasizes the emotional weight of the scene, making it a compelling example of Baroque art. The drawing is held by the Städel Museum, offering a glimpse into the creative process of a prominent Venetian artist of the 17th century.

Comments

stadelmuseum about 1 year ago

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These three sheets inv. nos. 4229 Z to 4231 Z are part of a series of drawings executed in 1623. To this day, the extent of the series as well as its function have remained a mystery. Palma focussed chiefly on the figures, reducing the spatial setting to a minimum. On all three sheets, the bodies have been recorded with simple pen strokes which are frequently interrupted but confident nonetheless. The drawings are not likely to have been conceived either as studies for paintings or in preparation for an etching series. What remains is the impression that Palma intended to produce an independent cycle using the drawing medium.