Christ Triumphant over Sin and Death (Rubens)

Christ Triumphant over Sin and Death, also known as Christ Triumphant over Death and Sin, or sometimes as Salvator Mundi, is a circa 1618 oil painting by the Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens. It is on display in the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Strasbourg, France. Its inventory number is 235.[2]

Christ Triumphant over Sin and Death
Christ Triumphant over Death and Sin, Salvator Mundi
ArtistPeter Paul Rubens
Yearcirca 1618
Mediumoil painting on panel
MovementBaroque painting
Christian art
Allegory
SubjectJesus Christ triumphing over Sin and Death
Dimensions175 cm × 137 cm (69 in × 54 in)[1]
LocationMusée des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg
Accession1891

The painting represents the allegorical victory of Christianity over Death (depicted as a skull) and Sin (depicted as a snake). It was formerly thought to have been painted around 1615, but more recent stylistic comparisons with similar Rubens works have indicated that it was more likely to have been painted slightly later, i.e. around 1618. The painting could have been commissioned for an altar in a private chapel; it was held in high esteem in the 18th century and is well document since 1745. It was bought for the museum by Wilhelm von Bode in 1890 at a sale at Christie's, and entered the collections in 1891.[1][3]

Christ's head and right arm are painted in a smoother, softer texture than the rest of his body or indeed of the painting as a whole. While the work is accepted as a genuine Rubens, the customary participation of his workshop is not excluded.[2][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hubrecht, Joël (February 2009). Collection du musée des Beaux-Arts – Peinture flamande et hollandaise XVème-XVIIIème siècle. Strasbourg: Musées de la ville de Strasbourg. pp. 135–137. ISBN 978-2-35125-030-3.
  2. ^ a b Jacquot, Dominique (2006). Le musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg. Cinq siècles de peinture. Strasbourg: Musées de Strasbourg. pp. 196–197. ISBN 2-901833-78-0.
  3. ^ "Le Christ triomphant de la mort et du péché; Salvator Mundi (autre titre)". French Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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