The Resurrection 1619 - 1620

Francesco Buoneri’s monumental canvas, The Resurrection, captures a pivotal moment in Christian theology, yet situates it within the artist’s distinctly baroque sensibilities. Painted in the vibrant atmosphere of baroque Italy, this work eschews traditional representations of Jesus by emphasizing his physical presence. Christ appears muscular and triumphant, as much a man as a divine figure, amidst bewildered Roman soldiers and an ethereal angel. Buoneri seems to capture the social and political tensions of his time. His Christ emerges as a figure of defiant strength, a possible symbol of hope amid the conflicts and upheavals of the era. The artist invites us to consider how power, both earthly and divine, is negotiated and represented through the human form. In Buoneri’s hands, religious art transcends mere depiction, becoming a potent expression of cultural identity and resilience.