Design for Pediments with the Resurrected Christ surmounted by a Crucifix 16th century

This pen and brown ink drawing shows a design for a pediment with the Resurrected Christ surmounted by a crucifix, and was made by an anonymous artist. The design, for a triangular gable above a doorway or window, reflects the period when Renaissance classicism infused religious iconography. The figure of Christ, emerging victorious, fits neatly within the architectural structure, flanked by swirling acanthus leaves, symbols of immortality and regeneration. At the apex, the crucifix, emblem of sacrifice, sits atop a sphere, perhaps representing the earth. It is likely the drawing was made in Italy, or somewhere else in Europe that was profoundly influenced by Italian art. To fully understand this artwork, we would research the influence of the Catholic Church in different nation states, including its role as a patron of the arts, and the rise of humanism during the period. Art history reminds us that the meaning of art is shaped by the specific cultural and institutional contexts in which it is created.