Frans Pourbus d. Ä., 1545 Brügge - 1581 Antwerpen,... Lot n° 269 bis

CHRIST ON THE CROSS WITH ANGELS (PROPERLY "ANGELS COLLECT THE BLOOD OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS")Oil on wood (slightly vertically curved). 66 x 51.7 cm. The painting is of great rarity in iconographic terms. Christ is shown on the cross, the dead body matt-brightly lit, the pale blue loincloth further emphasizes the impression of body coldness. Three angels, one of them kneeling at the trunk of the cross, the other two are shown floating, are about to catch the blood of Christ from the stigmata in golden cups. This idea is known to have contributed to the Grail idea. However, the motif can also be understood in the context of the different liturgical use of wine at church communion between Catholics and Protestants. The unreality of the scene against a deep dark background, which on closer inspection turns out to be a black cloth, is further emphasized by the thunderstorm-like lighting. Two large candlesticks with burning candles placed on the side of the ground also emphasize the mourning character, while skulls and a bone on the ground on the one hand signify the "skull of Adam", on the other hand is intended to illustrate the term "place of skulls" for Calvary. That the painter is known for his palette of strong colors is clearly evident here. Nevertheless, as here in the painting, he succeeds in differentiating the basic primary colors of green-red-blue and gold in fine gradations such as pink and light blue in appropriate places. His short trip to Italy in 1566 did have an influence on the master's style. Mannerism is clearly evident here, especially in the rotation of the angel figure on the right. A painting with identical representation is in the depot of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek Munich. The dimensions of the painting are almost identical (there 66,2 x 51,5 cm.), the painting is placed there in the year 1563 (Inv.Nr. 2115). The differences in the representation are marginal. The painting in the Alte Pinakothek came there from the Electoral Gallery in the early 19th century. In the case of the present painting, it may therefore be assumed that it is probably a repetition of the motif by the hand of the master; in such cases, the involvement of a workshop assistant cannot be completely ruled out. It also remains open which of the two pictures was created first. A.R. Literature: Cf. Paul Wescher, Pourbus, Frans the Elder, in: Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, vol. 27, Piermaria-Ramsdell, Leipzig 1933, pp. 314-315. (1300421) Frans Pourbus the Elder, 1545 Bruges - 1581 Antwerp, attributed CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST WITH ANGELS (ACTUALLY: "ANGELS COLLECTING THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AT THE CROSS") Oil on panel (vertically slightly warped). 66 x 51.7 cm. The painting's Mannerist style is evident, especially in the twisting of the angel figure on the right. A painting with an identical depiction is held in the depot of the Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen - Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The dimensions are almost identical (there 66.2 x 51.5 cm.), and the painting in the Alte Pinakothek is dated to 1563 (inventory no. 2115). There are only marginal differences in the representation. The painting came to the Alte Pinakothek from the Kurfürstliche Galerie in the early 19th century. In the case of the present painting, it can thus be assumed that it is probably a repetition of the motif by the master's own hand, but the involvement of a workshop assistant cannot be completely ruled out. It also remains unclear which of the two paintings was created first. Literature: cf. Paul Wescher, Pourbus, Frans the Elder, in: Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, vol. 27, Piermaria-Ramsdell, Leipzig 1933, p. 314-315.