Christ Blessing

Bartolomeo Manfredi was a key link between Caravaggio and artists in generations to follow. Rather than being a simple, slavish follower of Caravaggio, however, Manfredi himself was an innovator of a new style. His dramatically lit compositions were to have a deep influence on French and Netherlandish artists visiting Rome, such as Dirck van Baburen, Valentin de Boulogne, Nicolas Tournier, and Nicolas R�gnier, all of whom would disseminate his style in their native lands.

The style of the present painting, so suggestive and confident in its use of chiaroscuro, does in fact have roots in the works of Caravaggio. The expressive profile of the face of the Christ is cast in a deep shadow; it can be compared to other dramatically lit figures of Christ or St John the Baptist by Manfredi.