2-745-454 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Resurrection of Christ, 1622. According to the New Testament, on the third day after his crucifixion Christ rose from the dead to ascend to heaven. Johan König shows a triumphant Christ soaring toward heaven’s golden light. Around the empty sarcophagus are the soldiers charged with guarding it; some sleep, while others scatter in fright, shielding their eyes against the brilliant light. Through the archway in the background, dawn breaks over the city of Jerusalem as the three holy women (Mary Magdalene, Mary of Cleopas, and Mary Salome) hasten toward the empty tomb. König specialized in small, vividly coloured narratives painted on copper or vellum. The Resurrection is among the artist’s largest paintings on copper.