Focus on Christ Crucified (Velázquez) and explore the Description.
Christ has both arms drawn a subtle curve, instead of forming a triangle. The loincloth is painted rather small, thus showing the nude body as much as possible. The head shows a narrow halo, as if it came from the figure itself; the face is resting on the chest, showing just enough of his features. The long, straight hair covers a great part of the face, perhaps foreshadowing the death, already inflicted as shown by the wound on the right side. It lacks the characteristic dramatic qualities of Baroque painting. The influence of Classicist painting is shown by the calm posture of the body, the idealized face and the leaning head. On the other hand, the influence of Caravaggism can be seen in the strong chiaroscuro between the background and the body, and in the strong, artificial lightning over the cross. Velazquez's use of light and shadow creates the idea the subject is rising from the darkness, almost as if Christ's body is emanating light. The body anatomically proportioned, supported by two separated open feet, creates an impression of Christ more reposed than dead.
Caravaggism Baroque chiaroscuro cross