Christ at the Sea of Galilee

Christ at the Sea of Galilee is an expressive work from the supremely talented Venetian artist, Tintoretto.

This painting is dated at around the 1570s, by which time the painter had completed most of his artistic development. The latter stages of his career were dominated by fewer but larger paintings as he focused on quality rather than quantity. Perhaps in his older age he became less furious generally.

This painting features a host of movement and emotion, with Christ raising his hand towards the apostles. The overall style can be considered a typical example of Mannerism, though Tintoretto's take on that art movement contained several divergences from the norm. The aggressive waves set a scene of drama which reminds many of French Romanticist artists such as Eugene Delacroix and Theodore Gericault.

The original artwork is 169cm wide and just over a metre tall. It can now be found at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC as part of their permanent collection. Those lucky enough to visit this fine venue may also find work by related artists such as Allendale Nativity by Giorgione, Feast of the Gods by Giovanni Bellini, Adoration of the Magi by Fra Angelico, Saint Martin and the Beggar by El Greco and Ginevra de Benci by Leonardo da Vinci.