A Renaissance masterpiece nearly lost in war: Piero della Francesca, The Resurrection

Piero della Francesca, The Resurrection, c. 1470 (fresco, 225 x 200 cm (Museo Civico, Sansepolcro, Italy). A conversation with Dr. Steven Zucker and Dr. Beth Harris
This video (and Smarthistory's ARCHES series) has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this video do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

[@Abigail_Olson]

In my art history class, when commenting on this piece, one of my classmates said of Jesus’ demeanor despite having been brutally killed and then resurrected: “He just looks bada**!” Not wrong. Not wrong at all.

[@bev9708]

Absolutely FASCINATING, as usual. Many thanks again and again Beth and Steven!!

[@darklingeraeld-ridge7946]

Tony Clarke was a British Royal Artillery officer. When he gave the order to hold fire, against orders, it was not known that the Germans had already left the town - so the destruction would have been entirely pointless. A detail that interests me is that on Christ's halo - it appears that it is depicted as if reflecting the landscape.

[@bev9708]

VERY interesting!!!

[@carlabroderick5508]

Didn’t know this painting except on a glance in art books. Very moved.

Thanks Tony!

[@michaelhealy1590]

You give so much insight to things we may have missed along the way. Thank you so much.

[@Micro-Nova]

Wow, thank you. One man saved this painting and One Man saved the whole WORLD. How resonant!

[@ronpaulsonshow3389]

Another fantastic video. Thank you! It's a good thing people like Tony Clarke exists, or else we'd have lost our ability to appreciate and understand these wonderful artistic works.

[@Sasha0927]

What an incredible backstory... You go, Tony Clarke! I love the unique and powerful pose Jesus is in. It's interesting that his halo is so dingy-looking. I wonder if that's the effect of time and unfortunate cleaning attempts. It's also interesting that he's resurrected - managing to conquer death itself - but still actively bleeding... I really hope there's a video on The Virgin of the Rocks - it's lovely.

[@tonita88]

My interpretation of the trees is the sense of spring (right). When plants bloom after a long hard winter (left). It's the promise of rebirth and salvation by virtue of the Christ's passion and death on the cross. Like Him we too shall rise again for the final judgement and He shall be a triumphant King just like how He is portrayed in the painting.

[@camaramarcelo]

wonderful video, as always. thank you

[@danabrichtova265]

Thank you

[@johns.9819]

my favorite resurrection painting

[@jake2963]

Wonderful video. Thank you.

[@nathanielscreativecollecti6392]

Bravo Tony Clarke! A hero knows when and when not to strike.

[@arturoaquino6768]

Amazing!

[@almeggs3247]

What a great tribute you gave to this courageous young American hero! Tony Clarke!

[@johnAsanz]

I believe he was British.

[@stalkek]

Yes, he was British. There is a street in Sansepolcro now named after him.

[@mitchellbratton6617]

I interpreted the landscape as to get into paradise (right side of the painting) you would have to go through Christ who is in the middle.

[@uffa00001]

For what I know, the second soldier from the left is deemed to be a self-portrait of Piero della Francesca.

[@juanluisclaure6485]

waoo, that was just waooo

[@migueleduardoescalante5381]

ALLELUIA, He Is Risen

[@daniluchison]

Greatest lesson: DISOBEY ORDERS!

[@paillette2010]

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@finnersmcspeed5646]

Could we see some Soviet art analysis ?

[@smarthistory-art-history]

We have that. Go look, smarthistory.org

[@L-mo]

To my reading, the winter behind left and then the spring behind right clearly symbolises the triumph of Christ and his resurrection over death and the new age of life everlasting which this initiates rather than a difficult pathway. But either reading is possible of course.

[@uffa00001]

IMHO there are two obvious "errors" in the painting. The fourth soldier cannot fall asleep in that position, he would fall on the ground. He should be resting on something to maintain that body inclination while sleeping. The wound on the ribs of the Christ should be on the other side, the left side, which is the side of the heart. The good soldier gives the coup the grace to Jesus by piercing his heart from below, from under the cross.

[@dusanmilojevic5300]

first

[@ferdinandogulisano4855]

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