On this Holy Saturday, the Baroque Art Accessibility Consortium takes a look at some of moving and inspirational pieces of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection.

In room 211 at the @artinstitutechi you will find back on display this breathtaking piece by Francisco de Zurbarán. “The Crucifixion” (1627). The black background and amazing detail on Jesus’ body and loin cloth make this painting feel three dimensional. It is unknown if Zurbaran ever saw Caravaggio’s paintings, but looking at this piece, it is hard to believe he had not.

Fun Fact: Francisco de Zurbarán took inspiration from Juan Sánchez Cotán, the master of Spanish Baroque still-life painting. Cotán’s dramatic tenebrism (use of light and shadow), in his bodegones (still life painting of pantry items) , shaped Zurbarán’s own iconic style. On the opposite wall of the Crucifixion, you will find the Art Institute’s oldest European still life “Still Life with Game Fowl” by Cotán.

“The Entombment of Christ”(1603) by Caravaggio Here we see St. John and Nicodemus lowering Christ’s body into a tomb. The three Marys are behind him expressing three different forms of grief. From left to right – The Virgin Mary is looking at her son with her eyes downcast and her arm outstretched. Mary Magdalene has her eyes closed and head bowed, wiping tears from her face, unable to look at Christ’s body. Mary of Cleophas expresses her grief by throwing her arms up to
God as if to ask him how He could let this happen.

This painting is usually on display in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, but is currently in Osaka Japan as part of the Jubilee year celebration.

For more information about the location and display status of all of Caravaggio’s paintings, check out the database HERE.

“The Crucifixion” (1628) by Giovanni Lanfranco is a stripped down depiction, showing only Mary, Mary Magdalene and John at the foot of the cross. Lanfranco rotated the perspective of the painting to put Mary in the foreground to emphasize her intense suffering and deep connection with Jesus on the cross.

“The Entombment” (1656) by Guercino can be found in room 211 at the artinstitutechi. In this depiction St. John and Nicodemus are lowering Jesus’ body into the tomb while Mary and Mary Magdalene mourn.

I love that the Art Institute of Chicago has the Crucifixion, Entombment and Resurrection of Christ all in a single room by 3 different Baroque artists.

“Pietà with St Francis and St. Mary Magdalene” (c1607) by Annibale Carracci. This incredibly moving painting shows Mary holding Jesus’ body while mourning, with St. Francis,Mary Magdalene and Cherubim sharing in her grief.