Christ at the Sea of Galilee

Alessandro Magnasco

Oil on canvas

National Gallery of Art

This dramatic late-Baroque masterpiece depicts the biblical scene of Christ calling to Peter across surging waves in a stormy cove surrounded by gnarled trees. Painted by Alessandro Magnasco, known as 'il Lissandrino,' the work showcases his signature style of fragmented forms, swift brushstrokes, and darting flashes of light that create an almost phantasmagoric atmosphere. Magnasco was an Italian painter active in Milan and Genoa who became renowned for his stylized, fantastical landscapes and genre scenes that set him apart from his contemporaries. This painting exemplifies his ability to make human figures appear small and vulnerable against domineering natural forces, creating an emotionally charged spiritual narrative perfect for inspiring contemplation in any home.