Christ Blessing

Christ is shown raising his right hand in a gesture of blessing, as Saviour of the World. This work is perhaps a little earlier than the other version of 'Salvator Mundi' in the Collection which is inscribed 1519, but it may also date from Previtali's years in Bergamo after his return from Venice in about 1511-12. Previtali painted a number of other pictures of this traditional subject. Antonello's painting of the same subject 'Christ Blessing' belongs in the same tradition of imagery. Both ultimately derive from Netherlandish prototypes circulating in Italy.