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Christ and the Penitent Sinners
Also titled Christus en de boetvaardige zondaars
Gerard Seghers (Antwerp, 1591–1651)
c. 1640 - c. 1651
- Medium
- canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification
- painting
- Dimensions
- outer size: depth 8 cm (support incl. frame)
- Museum
- Rijksmuseum
- Credit line
- Gift of J.F.W. Baron Spaen van Biljoen
- Rights
- Public Domain Mark, as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Teens profiles and older: its subject is for older viewers (war, death, the Passion, drink or the like). How works are placed
About this work
Gerard Seghers (1591 - 1651). Christ and the repentant sinners, c. 1630. In this altarpiece by the Flemish artist Seghers, Christ is depicted in the midst of a number of well-known sinners who appear in the Bible. Mary Magdalene is at his feet, the apostle Peter is seated on the right and King David on the left. The sinners are showing repentance. Christ's gesture suggests that he is encouraging the viewer to do likewise. The conversion of sinners played an important role in the doctrine of the Counter-Reformation. Gerard Seghers spent twelve years in Rome, where he was greatly impressed by the artist Caravaggio and his pupils. The striking contrasts between light and dark make this an excellent example of the influence which Italy had on Seghers' style. The figures stand out sharply against the dark background. Gift of J.P.G. Baron Spaen van Biljoen, 1809.
