Resurrection 1500

Pietro Perugino painted this panel of the Resurrection in oil on wood in the late 15th century. The subject and the monumental style are clear indicators of this work’s role in the project of papal self-aggrandizement. The composition, with its symmetrical arrangement of figures and clear, bright colors, creates a sense of divine order and harmony reflecting the Church’s own sense of hierarchical organization. In Renaissance Italy, the Church was a major patron of the arts, using art to reinforce its authority and promote its doctrines, and it’s no surprise that the Vatican was a major center of artistic production. The depiction of Christ rising from the tomb, flanked by angels and soldiers, served as a potent symbol of the Church's triumph over death and sin. By studying the history of the papacy and the role of art in shaping religious and political ideologies we can better understand how cultural institutions like the Vatican use visual imagery to legitimize power.