Resurrection of the Dead 1600 - 1610

Marcantonio Bassetti made this pen and brown ink drawing titled "Resurrection of the Dead". It's located here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Bassetti made this artwork in Italy during a period of intense religious and artistic fervor known as the Counter-Reformation. The Catholic Church, responding to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation, sought to reaffirm its authority and inspire religious devotion through art. This drawing visualizes the Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead. The depiction of figures emerging from their graves reflects the era's emphasis on the physical and spiritual aspects of salvation. The image's theatrical composition, with figures dramatically rising, conveys a sense of awe and divine power, and also demonstrates the artist's mastery of anatomy and perspective, reflecting the influence of Renaissance artistic ideals. To fully grasp the drawing's meaning, it helps to delve into the religious and social context of 17th-century Italy through historical documents and theological texts, allowing a deeper understanding of its visual language.