Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels
c. 1589 or later
Medium
nielloed silver
Dimensions
oval: 5.7 × 4.3 cm (2 1/4 × 1 11/16 in.) engraved composition: 5.3 × 4 cm (2 1/16 × 1 9/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1961.9.150
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Dead Christ Supported by Two Angels*, likely crafted by a Venetian artist in the late 16th century (c. 1589 or later), is a poignant example of Renaissance devotional art. Measuring just 5.7 × 4.3 cm in an oval nielloed silver plaque, it captures the limp body of Christ tenderly held by two sorrowful angels—a classic Pietà motif evoking profound grief and redemption. The intimate scale suggests it was a personal prayer aid, perhaps worn as a pendant or placed on a domestic altar. The medium, nielloed silver, showcases a sophisticated technique revived in Renaissance Italy: fin...