Auferstehung Christi
um 1720
Medium
Öl auf Leinwand
Dimensions
145,5 x 77 cm
Classification
Gemälde
Department
Belvedere Collection
Museum
Belvedere
Credit
Belvedere, Vienna
Accession Number
6159
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Über Vermittlung des neapolitanischen Vizekönigs Wirich Philipp Graf Daun beauftragte Prinz Eugen spätestens im Jahr 1720 Francesco Solimena mit dem Altarbild für die Schlosskapelle des Oberen Belvedere. Obgleich der Künstler bereits 1721 eine Zeichnung dafür sandte, zog sich die Ausführung noch mehrere Jahre hin. Der bisherigen Meinung zufolge ist das Gemälde wohl erst 1731 in Wien angekommen. Aus stilistischen Gründen ist jedoch anzunehmen, dass die Fertigstellung bereits zwischen 1720 und 172...
Art Historical Context
**Auferstehung Christi (The Resurrection of Christ)** *Francesco Solimena, c. 1720, Oil on canvas, 145.5 x 77 cm* This dramatic altarpiece captures the triumphant Resurrection of Christ, a pivotal moment in Christian iconography symbolizing victory over death. Commissioned around 1720 by the renowned military leader and art patron Prince Eugene of Savoy, it was destined for the chapel of Vienna's Upper Belvedere Palace The Neapolitan Baroque master Francesco Solimena, known for his swirling compositions and theatrical light effects, received the order through Viceroy Wirich Philipp Graf Daun. Solimena sent a detailed preparatory drawing in 1721, but the painting's execution stretched over years—stylistic evidence suggests completion between 1720 and 1725, though it likely arrived in Vienna only by 1731. A smaller modello (preparatory oil sketch), once housed in the chapel at Ladendorf Castle, reveals Solimena's meticulous planning with its clear composition and intricate details. Oil on canvas allowed the artist to layer vibrant colors and dynamic chiaroscuro, hallmarks of late Baroque drama that draw viewers into the divine spectacle. Today, this work graces the Belvedere Collection, embodying Prince Eugene's passion for grand Italian art and the cultural exchange between Naples and the Habsburg court— a testament to 18th-century patronage bridging faith, power, and artistic genius.
About the Artist
Francesco Solimena · 1657–1747
Comment on works: History; Religious