Circle of Tiziano Vecellio, called Titian

Chancellor Konrad Adenauer (1876–1967);
Acquired from the above by Heinz Kisters (1912–1977);
His sale ('Collection formed by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, the Property of Heinz Kisters’), London, Christie's, 26 June 1970, lot 4, (as Francesco Vecellio) where unsold;
Thence by inheritance.

Long thought to be by Titian's elder brother Francesco Vecellio (c. 1475–1560), this Resurrection is clearly indebted to Titian's treatment of the same scene in the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino.¹ Whilst Francesco's own treatment of the scene of the resurrection on the organ door shutters in the Church of San Salvador, Venice, is indeed also similar to his brother's painting in Urbino, it is different in style to that of the present lot. The curved pose of the soldier at the right who shield his eyes from the light omitted by the risen Christ is very closely related to the soldier in Titian's Urbino Resurrection. The modelling here is also softer; the voluminous drapery and billowing flags; the bent arm of Christ; the angle of the tomb and naturalistic setting are all closer to the Urbino canvas than to Francesco's.

1. See P. Humfrey, Titian, The Complete Paintings, London 2007, p. 191, cat. no. 137B, reproduced.