Italy / c. 1725–35
Interior of a Synagogue
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Interior of a Synagogue as painting (Italy · c. 1725–35).
The Jewish synagogue was among Magnasco's most frequently painted subjects, here presented in a mystical and imaginative way. Expansive architectural space creates room for a multitude of tiny, fantastical figures with elongated limbs.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Alessandro Magnasco (Italian, 1667–1749).
The museum's collection notes: The Jewish synagogue was among Magnasco's most frequently painted subjects, here presented in a mystical and imaginative way. Expansive architectural space creates room for a multitude of tiny, fantastical figures with elongated limbs. These characters respond to the service with emotion and expressive gestures. Flashes of light dash across the surface against a dark, muted palette of earthy tones suggesting an otherworldly presence. The composition invites the viewer to enter the space and experience the service. Though he used characteristic elements of Baroque composition and was strongly influenced by Venetian painting, Magnasco's loose b
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The Cleveland Museum of ArtInterior of a SynagogueOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.