Christ of the Red Light District (After Caccini)
Oil on Canvas
18 x 18
2021
On Loan
In 2019, I did a demonstration for #rembrandtoils at the Oil Painters of America convention. It was from a photo of a nocturne scene in Amsterdam. I pulled it out the other day to work on it again. After it sat on my easel for a few days, I ran across this inspiring 16th century Italian sculpture of Christ I had photographed at the Rijksmuseum. I was compelled to paint it, and the canvas currently on my easel seemed like the appropriate support.
After I finished a session, I considered a title for this strange composition, so I decided it would be "Christ of the _such_&_such_ Street". I looked up the location marker that went with my photo, and realized it was taken at the entrance of the Red Light District. The very building I was painting is called the Red Light Bed and Breakfast...I had no idea at the time I took the picture.
To me, there is a wonderful irony to "Christ of the Red Light District."
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