Mater Dolorosa
Technical details
- Author Antón Rafael Mengs
- Title Mater Dolorosa
- Timeline c. 1765-1769
- Technique Oil on canvas
Description
The very beautiful Mater Dolorosa is the work of Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-1779), who succeeded Giaquinto as the chief court painter to King Charles III. Unlike the Rococo sensibility expressed by Giaquinto, Mengs represented the establishment of an idealistic and classical language inspired by Raphael, Correggio and sculptures from Classical Antiquity. He influenced the Spanish painters of the time, such as Bayeu, Maella and Goya himself, who took as a model the paintings made by the master, which expressed "ideal beauty". It was painted during Mengs’ first stay in Spain, between 1765 and 1769. Exquisitely porcelain-like, executed with very long brushstrokes, the work shows restrained religious emotion, in keeping with enlightenment sensibilities.
Location in the museum
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