The Prado Museum has welcomed a new addition to its valuable collections: “Resurrected Christ,” an exceptional miniature by renowned artist Giulio Clovio, considered a true jewel of the Renaissance. This work, estimated to have been commissioned around 1550 by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, is inspired by a sculpture of the same name created by Michelangelo, which is found in the church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome.
Giulio Clovio, acclaimed as the best miniaturist and illuminator of his time, is known for his close friendship with the famous painter El Greco, whom he introduced to Cardinal Farnese’s circle upon his arrival in the Italian capital. Clovio developed an innovative technique of applying color through small dots, giving his works an unparalleled texture, evoking the image of “snow falling on the painting,” as described by the writer Francisco de Holanda. His creativity stood out as he distanced himself from medieval tradition, considering his miniatures as small paintings that breathed new life into a technique that had begun to decline after the invention of engraving.
The piece in question remained in a private collection in Spain until it was acquired by Pilar Conde Gutiérrez del Álamo. In 2019, she donated it to the American Friends of the Prado Museum, an organization that played a fundamental role in its official inclusion in the Museum’s collections at the end of last year. Christina Simmons, director of American Friends, expressed deep gratitude to Pilar Conde for her generous gesture, emphasizing the entity’s mission to foster patronage in favor of the Prado Museum.
Miguel Falomir, director of the Museum, also highlighted the importance and uniqueness of Clovio’s work, thanking American Friends and Pilar Conde for their contribution to the visibility of a piece with a historical link to Spain. Prior to the arrival of “Resurrected Christ,” the Prado only had one work by Clovio, titled “Holy Family with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant St. John,” which is located in the Lázaro Galdiano Museum in Madrid.
Pilar Conde expressed her satisfaction at having contributed to enriching the Museum’s collections, hoping that visitors enjoy this work as much as she has. The addition of this miniature promises to attract the attention of art lovers, further solidifying the Prado’s reputation as one of the leading temples of art worldwide.
Source: MiMub in Spanish