Christ and St. Thomas (Verrocchio)

Christ and St. Thomas (Verrocchio)
Christ and St. Thomas
Christ and Saint Thomas.jpg
Artist Andrea del Verrocchio
Year 1467-1483
Type Bronze
Dimensions 230 cm (91 in)
Location Orsanmichele, Florence

Christ and St. Thomas (1467–1483) is a bronze statue by Andrea del Verrocchio located in one of the 14 niches of the Orsanmichele in Florence, Italy. The work depicts the Biblical account of Thomas the Apostle, who doubted the resurrection of Jesus and had to feel the wounds for himself in order to be convinced (John 20:24-29). The surrounding marble niche was designed by Donatello for his St Louis of Toulouse (1413), but the statue was moved to Santa Croce when the niche was sold to the Tribunale di Mercanzia (merchant's guild), who commissioned the Verrochio work.

Style

Closeup
Closeup

The work was the first narrative based work to appear at Orsanmichele. In its execution Verrocchio showed sophisticated knowledge of the style and substance of classical sculpture. The figures were cast without backs (i.e., not in the round) as they were only to be viewed from the front. This had the added benefits of saving on bronze (which was roughly ten times more expensive than marble), making the work lighter and easier to fit into the niche.

The interaction between the characters of Christ and St Thomas show a strong sense of movement and dialogue. Differences between the mortal and the immortal are highlighted with Christ's passive, almost regal stance and the agitated and nervous disposition of the doubting St Thomas. The realism created by the artist is indicative of the period of art in which it was made, the Renaissance.

Mercanzia

Part of the remit of the Merchant's guild was to be a judicial, overseeing body. As such the theme of Christ and St Thomas would have been attractive to them as it concerned proof and the presentation of indefatigable evidence.

References

  • Hartt, Frederick and Wilkins , David G. History of Italian Renaissance Art. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2006.

Coordinates: 43°46′14.63″N 11°15′18.92″E / 43.7707306°N 11.2552556°E / 43.7707306; 11.2552556


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Verrocchio, Andrea del — born 1435, Florence died 1488, Venice Italian sculptor and painter. Little is certain about his early life. His most important works were executed in his final two decades under the patronage of the Medici in his native Florence. His reputation… …   Universalium

  • Verrocchio — Andrea del Verrocchio Vierge à l Enfant (1470 1475) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thomas the Apostle — Saint Thomas the Apostle The Incredulity of St Thomas by Caravaggio Apostle Born 1st century AD …   Wikipedia

  • Andrea del Verrocchio — Andrea del Verrocchio, born Andrea di Michele di Francesco de Cioni, (c. 1435 ndash; 1488) was an influential Italian sculptor, goldsmith and painter who worked at the court of Lorenzo de Medici in Florence. His pupils included Leonardo da Vinci …   Wikipedia

  • Verrocchio, Andrea del — (1425 1488)    Italian sculptor and painter who worked primarily for the Medici and who trained Leonardo da Vinci in his workshop. Among his paintings are the Baptism of Christ (1472 1475) in the Uffizi, commissioned for the monastery Church of… …   Dictionary of Renaissance art

  • Christ Church (Oxford) — Patio principal del Christ Church. El Christ Church (en latín: Ædes Christi, el templo o la casa de Cristo, y algunas veces conocido como The House), es uno de los colleges más grandes que constituyen la Universidad de Oxford en Inglaterra.… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Verrocchio, Andrea — (Andrea Cione, ca. 1435 1488)    Floren tine artist, primarily known as a sculptor. Born the son of a kiln worker and initially trained as a goldsmith, as early as 1463 he re ceived a major commission for a monumental bronze sculpture, The… …   Historical Dictionary of Renaissance

  • Andrea Del Verrocchio — Vierge à l Enfant (1470 1475) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Andrea Verrocchio — Andrea del Verrocchio Vierge à l Enfant (1470 1475) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Andrea del verrocchio — Vierge à l Enfant (1470 1475) …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”