(1588-1629)
Salvator mundi
Oil on canvas
H. 85 cm; W. 67 cm
Ter Brugghen painted in 1614, at the very end of his stay in Italy, the important work "The Disciples of Emmaus" now kept in Vienna, whose tones and light slightly depart from the Caravaggio spirit sought in him. A few years ago, a work rediscovered in a Milanese collection was attributed to Ter Brugghen (photo attached). Within it, the Christ in a central position breaking the bread is certainly the model or a variant of our composition. This humble face, lowered gaze, with a solid body are details that can be found in our work. The action of Christ is not the same and therefore the position of the hands and the clothing differ. Should we therefore see in our canvas the same hand as the one that created this large format from the Milanese collection? Should we see a student who simply took a model?
Note a visible repentance around the upper part of the sphere. This was therefore reduced during the composition of the work.