Christ Appearing to Mary

Albert Pinkham Ryder, Christ Appearing to Mary, ca. 1885, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1929.6.92
Copied Albert Pinkham Ryder, Christ Appearing to Mary, ca. 1885, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, 14 1⁄4 x 17 1⁄4 in. (36.1 x 43.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly, 1929.6.92
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Christ Appearing to Mary
Artist
Date
ca. 1885
Location
Dimensions
14 1⁄4 x 17 1⁄4 in. (36.1 x 43.8 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John Gellatly
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Religion — saint — St. Mary Magdalen
  • State of being — phenomenon — vision
  • Landscape — time — sunrise
  • Religion — New Testament — Christ
Object Number
1929.6.92
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1929.6.92

Artwork Description

Albert Pinkham Ryder traveled to Europe in 1877 and 1882 to study the art of the European masters. He was inspired to paint many religious subjects, including this image of Christ appearing to Mary Magdalene. Ryder asked one of his friends to model for the figure of Jesus, but his friend felt that because he was “stout and muscular . . . the figure would look rather healthy for a man that had been in the grave three days.” Ryder was unconcerned, replying that the painting of Jesus “should show power as well as spirituality.” X-rays of the image, however, show that he did alter the figure’s arm and chest slightly to make them appear slimmer. (Fitzpatrick, quoted in Taylor, “Ryder Remembered,” in Broun, Albert Pinkham Ryder, 1989)