The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
About this artwork
Poussin represented this Sacrament of final blessing with the moving scene of a dying Christian Roman soldier anointed with holy oil by a priest. The figure group resembles a classical relief sculpture in its horizontal emphasis, while the room's central perspective provides a stage like setting. Poussin did use a model stage with wax figures to plan some of his compositions and to study the play of light and shadow. Here candle light complements the intense emotion of the scene. It was one of the first paintings completed in the artist's second series of Seven Sacraments (1644-1648) created for Paul Freart de Chantelou.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Nicolas Poussin (1594 - 1665) French
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title:The Sacrament of Extreme Unction
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date created:1644
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:117.00 x 178.00 cm; Framed: 151.00 x 212.00 x 11.40 cm / 63.00 kg
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object type:
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credit line:Bridgewater Collection Loan, 1945
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accession number:NGL 067.46 G
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gallery:
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subject:
Nicolas Poussin
Nicolas Poussin
Poussin aimed to achieve a pure and noble style of painting inspired by the classical ideals of ancient art and the work of Raphael. Born in Normandy, he trained in Paris before arriving in Rome in 1624. Apart from a brief return to Paris (1640-42) he remained in Rome. He did not employ assistants...