Extreme Unction 1639

Nicolas Poussin painted "Extreme Unction," now at the Scottish National Gallery, using oil on canvas. The composition, bathed in a tenebrous light, creates a somber mood, typical of Poussin's intellectual and controlled approach to painting. The dramatic light illuminates the ritual of anointing, a key element in Christian sacrament. Poussin meticulously organizes the figures into a frieze-like arrangement, reminiscent of classical reliefs. This design is not merely decorative; it’s a structural framework that conveys the gravity and order of the scene. Note how the geometry of the architecture, with its strong horizontal and vertical lines, anchors the emotional turbulence of the figures. Poussin uses classical forms to frame a moment of intense human drama, suggesting a structured approach to emotional and spiritual experience. This intersection of form and content invites us to consider how art, like ritual, can impose order on chaos, offering a framework for understanding life’s most profound moments.