Painting On Stone (alabaster), 17th Century: Christ At The Column, Italian School

Painting on stone (alabaster), 17th century: Christ at the Column, Italian School

Technique: Oil on alabaster
Period: 17th century
Dimensions without frame: 16.8 x 13.3 cm
Dimensions with frame: 19 x 23 cm

This small devotional painting is executed on alabaster, a precious and uncommon support particularly appreciated in the 17th century. Artists valued it not only for its rarity but also for the unique visual effects made possible by its natural veining. In this work, the organic patterns of the stone subtly resemble clouds or landscape elements, merging with the composition and playing with the viewer’s perception. These optical suggestions, typical of Baroque taste, lend the image a quiet depth and sense of mystery.

The figure of Christ, bound to the column, is rendered with soft, crepuscular tones across the face and body, enhancing the emotional gravity of the scene. The artist has carefully adapted the painting to the stone’s surface, integrating its chromatic irregularities into the modeling of forms, rather than covering them, allowing the material itself to participate in the image.

Some minor abrasions are visible, which is common for paintings on stone. Because the paint is applied with minimal ground or preparation, the surface is more fragile than canvas or wood, and well-preserved examples are increasingly rare. In this case, the alabaster is intact, without breaks or cracks, and of notably high quality, with rich color and veining that add atmospheric complexity to the work.

The painting is housed in its original antique octagonal frame, ebonized and set with silvered metal elements. The frame requires restoration but retains its harmony with the refined character of the piece. Intended for a private devotional space or a collector’s cabinet, this artwork reflects the Baroque fascination with illusion, material beauty, and intimate scale.