Resurrection of Christ (Piero della Francesca, Sansepolcro)

Christ's raised leg and frontal stance make his emergence from the tomb look deliberate and victorious. He holds the resurrection banner while looking directly outward, creating a commanding contrast with the sleeping guards.

The contrasting trees are commonly interpreted as a movement from winter and death toward spring and renewed life. This seasonal transformation reinforces the Christian meaning of Christ's resurrection.

The guard shown frontally beneath the banner pole is often identified as a self-portrait of Piero. The identification is traditional rather than documented beyond doubt, but the face is frequently compared with other supposed images of the artist.

During World War II, British officer Tony Clarke halted shelling of Sansepolcro because he remembered that the town contained Piero's famous fresco. The decision spared the town from an attack that might have damaged the work, although opposing forces were already withdrawing.