Piero della Francesca
In Western Christianity, today is Easter Sunday, celebrated around the world. The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca is not only one of the most famous frescoes of Western art history, but also a powerful symbol of hope, renewal, and victory over death. Happy Easter!
The Resurrection was painted by the Italian Renaissance master Piero della Francesca for the Palazzo della Residenza in Sansepolcro. It was commissioned for the town’s communal meeting hall, where local magistrates gathered and prayed before beginning their work. From the beginning, the painting united civic and spiritual meaning, reflecting both religious devotion and public responsibility. Placed high on the wall opposite the entrance, the fresco also refers to the town’s name, “Holy Sepulchre,” which recalls relics brought there by pilgrims in the ninth century. Christ’s image later became part of the city’s coat of arms.
At the center of the composition, Christ is shown rising from his tomb, one foot resting on the edge of a classical sarcophagus. His calm, solemn figure towers above four sleeping soldiers, emphasizing the contrast between human weakness and divine power. The dawn-lit landscape carries symbolic meaning as well: young, flourishing trees on one side and bare, mature ones on the other suggest spiritual renewal through the Resurrection.
Several details reveal Piero’s careful balance between realism and symbolism. One guard is shown in an anatomically impossible pose, seemingly without legs, a choice made to preserve the composition's harmony. Despite Christ’s idealized, sculptural body, subtle signs of humanity—such as his expressive face and skin folds—emphasize his dual nature as both man and God. Tradition suggests that one of the sleeping soldiers may be a self-portrait of the artist, linking Piero personally to the sacred scene.
It is a magnificent masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance.
P.S. Learn more about Piero della Francesca—one of the greatest Renaissance artists and ... mathematicians!
P.P.S. If you love the art of the Renaissance, our Italian Renaissance 50 Postcards Set brings together some of its most breathtaking masterpieces. It is perfect for collecting, gifting, or quiet moments of inspiration.