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The Unrepentant Thief
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Two thieves were crucified with Christ on Mount Golgotha. One, recognizing Christ's innocence, re-pented his sins, while the other reviled him. In paintings of the crucifixion, this unrepentant thief is depicted at Christ's left. The angle of the cross in this drawing indicates that it is the unrepentant thief who here struggles against the binding ropes. Sodoma was born and trained in Lombardy, but spent most of his life in Siena, where he dominated Sienese painting during the first half of the 16th century. Known for his emotionally charged paintings as well as for his eccentric lifestyle, Sodoma's individuality is evident in his drawings. Here, in the first drawing by this important Renaissance artist to enter the museum's collection, the scratchy and trailing lines of the figure, with its various pentimenti (changes) create the active tension and nervous movement that both enliven the form and suggest the pain of the suffering thief.
| Artist / Maker | Sodoma |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 1530 |
| Culture / Origin | Italy |
| Medium | black chalk |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 14 x 8.7 cm (5 1/2 x 3 7/16 in.); Secondary Support: 14.8 x 9.5 cm (5 13/16 x 3 3/4 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
BiographySodoma (1477–1549) — Italian Renaissance painter (1477-1549).Sodoma worked as painter and is associated with Italy. Their documented life spans the years 1477 to 1549, born in Vercelli, died in Siena. Their work is linked to Renaissance, Sienese school.DisciplinespainterBorn1477, VercelliDied1549, SienaNationalityItalyMovementRenaissance, Sienese schoolSources: Wikidata · Wikipedia Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
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