From an engraving by Johannes Sadeler based on an original by Marteen de Vos, 17th century Appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus Oil on copper, 28 x 22 cm With frame, 37 x 31 cm The biblical episode depicted on this copper piece is the appearance of Jesus on the road to Emmaus, which occurred three days after his death. On the road, two of His disciples were walking to reach the village of Emmaus, about twelve kilometers from Jerusalem. Lost in their thoughts, they were joined by a stranger who began to discuss with them the recent events that had occurred to Jesus of Nazareth, also mentioning his alleged resurrection. The subsequent episode is that of the dinner in Emmaus, when the two disciples recognize their master as he blesses the bread, only to suddenly disappear from their sight. In the Gospel of Luke (24:14-35), this journey undertaken on the evening of Christ's Resurrection by Cleopas and another of his disciples is recounted, whose name is not specified and whom theologians have not been able to identify with absolute certainty in the following centuries; despite this, the episode has enjoyed enormous success, especially for the catechetical value of the recognition of Christ and the divine action in everyday life, but also for the close connection with the episode of the dinner: in fact, since the Renaissance, both scenes have been widely represented through different and varied settings, clothes, and compositions. In this case, the technique of painting on copper makes the pictorial corpus more luminous and fluid, enhancing the chiaroscuro effects of the draperies and giving greater vivacity to the colors of the background and the elements of the surrounding vegetation. The lenticular treatment of the golden embroideries, Christ's halo, the foliage, and the background architectures is perfectly balanced with an orderly layout structured around the three figures, arranged progressively along a diagonal line that allows them to be observed in their singularity as well as in the dialogue and cohesive whole of the group on their way. The increase in the production of the metallic support between the 16th and 17th centuries is due to several factors: from the improvement of extraction techniques in the quarry to the invention of the rolling mill (the first examples of roller presses, powered by watermills, appear in Leonardo's Codex Atlanticus) which, with mechanical beating, made it possible to obtain regular sheets quickly and without melting. The copper sheet proved ideal for oil painting as it constituted a non-absorbent, rigid, smooth support characterized by the same reddish color used for the preparation of the backgrounds; these characteristics were appreciated by artists throughout the European continent and in particular by Flemish artists, both for the quality of the support and for the availability of this material in Flanders: the major production centers were in fact Antwerp, Hamburg, and Amsterdam, all cities linked to the monopoly that the Fugger family held on this metal. This copper itself can be traced back to Flemish production given the descriptivism of the scene in its most minute details, such as the play of light on the foliage, the cold tones rendered with a unifying light, and a more open spatiality despite the small size of the support. Two versions are known in private collections but of unknown location that replicate the same group of characters, an indicative factor of the existence of a common model. The RKD effectively reports that a model can be traced in an engraving by Johannes Sadeler based on an original by Marteen de Vos. Similar subjects are also evident in the engravings of Julius Goltzius. With Ars Antiqua it is possible to spread all amounts up to a maximum of €7,500 at ZERO RATE, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS. Ex. Tot. €4,500 = Monthly installment €300 for 15 months. Ex. Tot. €3,600 = Monthly installment €720 for 5 months. For amounts over €7,500 or for a longer payment term (over 15 installments), we can provide a personalized payment. Contact us directly for the best quote. LIVE TV – SUNDAY 17.00 – 21.00 Dig.terr. 126 - Sky 824 – Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social networks Facebook and Youtube All the works proposed by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity according to law and an accurate in-depth sheet. It is possible to see the works directly at the showroom gallery in Milan, in via Pisacane 55 and 57. We personally organize transport and deliveries of the works, both for Italy and abroad.