The Circumcision of Christ

The Circumcision of Christ (c. 1604-05) at the Jesuit church of Santi Ambrogio e Andrea in Genoa was one of Rubens's important Italian commissions during his Gonzaga period — a large altarpiece for the Society of Jesus that demonstrated his ability to produce ambitious ecclesiastical works for the most powerful religious order of the Counter-Reformation. The Circumcision was theologically significant in Counter-Reformation art as the first act of Christ's self-sacrifice — the first shedding of his blood, which the Mass perpetually renewed — and Jesuit churches placed particular emphasis on devotions that connected the liturgical present to the historical events of the Passion. Rubens's commission for the Genoese Jesuits, one of the wealthiest and most important Jesuit establishments in Italy, was a significant professional achievement for a still-young painter; it placed him in competition with the leading Italian altarpiece painters and demonstrated his ability to satisfy the demanding requirements of the most sophisticated ecclesiastical patrons. The painting remains in the church for which it was painted, an unusually stable placement for a Rubens altarpiece of this quality.

The monumental composition demonstrates Rubens' early command of the large-scale religious altarpiece format. The warm palette and dramatic lighting show his study of Italian masters, particularly the Venetians and Caravaggio.

This early altarpiece from 1605, painted during Rubens's Italian period, has been conserved over the centuries. The large format has presented challenges for structural conservation. The canvas has been relined. The rich architectural details and varied figural types have been well-maintained.