Flemish school; second half of the 17th century.

Flemish school; second half of the 17th century.
"Christ before Herod".
Oil on canvas
Measurements: 115 x 131 cm.
This is a scene linked to the biblical episodes of the Passion: the presentation of Christ before Herod. Stylistically and formally it is a Baroque painting, clearly influenced by the Flemish school. In the expressiveness of the faces and in the naturalistic modeling of the bodies, the influence of Rubens can be appreciated. Jesus is introduced in Herod's court. The latter is moved and uncomfortable with the historical decision he must make. The episode is narrated in the Gospel of Luke: after being judged by the Sanhedrin, Jesus is sent to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who upon learning that he was a Galilean understood that the case would be under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas.
The influence of the Flemish school of painting was key in the development of European art, especially in Spain, which was linked to the Netherlands by political and economic ties. At that time, the Flemish painters established a stylistic model based on the search for reality, focusing on the rendering of the qualities of objects, giving special importance to secondary details and using a smooth and draftsmanlike technique. Following the introduction of the novelties of the Italian Renaissance, the Flemish style evolved towards a more classical and sculptural sense, while retaining its own characteristics.