The Resurrection of Christ

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, where *The Resurrection of Christ*, an etching attributed to Giuseppe Maria Crespi Lodovico Matti (ca. 1700–40), captures a pivotal moment in Christian iconography. Crespi, a prominent Bolognese Baroque artist, was renowned for his dynamic religious compositions blending emotional intensity with everyday realism, influenced by the dramatic lighting and movement of Caravaggio. This print likely reproduces one of his paintings, with Mattioli executing the etching—a technique that allowed for intricate, fluid lines to convey the triumphant rise of Christ amid angels and divine light. Etching's significance here lies in its ability to democratize grand Baroque art: acid biting into a metal plate created rich tonal contrasts, evoking the era's theatrical spirituality during the late Baroque period in Italy. Measuring about 18½ × 13 inches on the sheet, this work exemplifies how prints disseminated sacred narratives to a wider audience beyond oil paintings, supporting the Counter-Reformation's visual evangelism. A fascinating acquisition through multiple funds in 2017, it highlights the Met's commitment to preserving reproductive prints that bridged elite patronage and popular devotion. Gaze upon the swirling angels and radiant Christ, and feel the Baroque fervor of resurrection's promise.

About the Artist

Giuseppe Maria Crespi|Lodovico Mattioli · 1665–1747

Giuseppe Maria Crespi (1665–1747) was an Italian painter of the late Baroque period whose innovative genre scenes and unorthodox approach to religious painting made him one of the most original artists of early eighteenth-century Bologna. Born in Bologna, he trained under Domenico Maria Canuti, Carlo Cignani, and in the tradition of the Carracci academy, but developed a markedly personal style tha...