Hommage an Vittore Carpaccio
In the organizer's words:
The "Preparation for the Burial of Christ" is one of two large-format masterpieces by Vittore Carpaccio (c. 1465-1525/26), with which the Venetian artist is excellently represented in the Picture Gallery. In recent years, the "Preparation for the Tomb" has been carefully restored, allowing the colors of the painting to shine again in all their glory. 500 years after Carpaccio's death, the work is the focus of a special presentation that also includes other Venetian paintings from the museum's own collection, graphic works from the Kupferstichkabinett and a reproduction of a panel from Aby Warburg's "Bilderatlas Mnemosyne".
The exhibition places the "Grave Preparation" in its context in terms of content and art by enabling a comparison with works by Giovanni Bellini, Cima da Conegliano, Palma il Vecchio, Francesco Bissolo and Carpaccio himself. In addition, two valuable loans from the Museum of Prints and Drawings will be on display: a preparatory drawing by Carpaccio depicting the dead Christ and an engraving by Andrea Mantegna, which served as inspiration for the Venetian painter.
Carpaccio's "Preparation of Christ for the Tomb"
The "Preparation of Christ for the Tomb" is a work that is as remarkable as it is mysterious. Instead of the more usual Lamentation, the painter chose the moment between Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection. Christ's body is laid out in the center of the painting, behind it the tomb is opened and Joseph of Arimathea prepares to wash the body. Leaning against a tree sits a meditating old man, presumably Job as an Old Testament forerunner of Christ. Many narrative details set in an ideal landscape emphasize the contrast between life and death: skulls and parts of skeletons in the foreground, shepherds playing music in the middle of the picture.
For the Hamburg art historian Aby Warburg, the "Preparation for the Tomb of Christ" was so important that he included it in his "Bilderatlas Mnemosyne" in 1929 alongside works by Donatello and Raphael. The original panel from the picture atlas was reproduced for this special presentation.
Intensive examination and extensive restoration
The poor condition of the painting led to a comprehensive restoration, which was carried out by the former head conservator of the Gemäldegalerie, Babette Hartwieg. Layers of varnish and earlier retouching had become discolored and had to be removed. The investigations carried out together with the Rathgen research laboratory had revealed serious changes in certain areas of color, which had to be taken into account when choosing the restoration methods. Visitors are provided with information of varying depth on the results of the investigations and the restoration measures carried out.
Curatorial team
The exhibition is curated by Babette Hartwieg and Neville Rowley.
The restoration was made possible with the support of Culturespaces, Paris.
A special presentation in room 37 of the Gemäldegalerie - Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
https:// www.smb.museum/ausstellungen/detail/hommage-an-vittore-carpaccio/
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Admission to the Picture Gallery: €14.00, concessions €7.00; free admission for children and young people up to and including the age of 18.
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