Blood of the Redeemer 

Bartolomeo Passerotti's small oil on copper painting presents us with an intimate view of Christian iconography. Painted during the late Renaissance, a period marked by religious reformations, this piece speaks to a time of intense spiritual reflection and artistic innovation. Passerotti, working in Bologna, infuses the traditional image of Christ with a visceral, human presence. The emphasis on Christ's physical form, the blood, and the instruments of crucifixion evokes both suffering and redemption. Note the gaze upward: what is the individual’s relationship to the divine? The chalice at Christ’s feet is entwined with the snake from the Garden of Eden. This not only symbolizes the fall of man, but how the blood of Christ, shed for humanity, offers salvation. The use of a copper support lends a unique luminosity to the colors, enhancing the emotional impact of the scene. "Blood of the Redeemer" invites us to consider the complexities of faith, sacrifice, and the enduring power of art to convey profound human experiences.