Christ Crowned with Thorns, c. 1509
Albrecht Dürerexpand_more
Woodcutexpand_more
Gift of funds from the Ronald F. Kinney Foundationexpand_more 2015.92.1
Not on Viewexpand_more
Christ sits on a stone bench surrounded by three tormentors. The crown is so spiny that one of the men holds it with a pair of tongs while another forces it down onto Christ’s head with a fork. The third man, kneeling before him and sticking out his tongue, hands Christ his “scepter,” a sapling or tree-branch, from which, according to legend, another cross could grow. In the background, two figures wearing elaborate headgear attend the shameful act. They are Caiaphas and Pilate who represent Semitic and Roman opposition to and official mistreatment of Christ.
This is a proof printed prior to the regular edition of Albrecht Dürer’s Small Passion, a book in which he visually narrated key stories of the life of Christ.
Details
- Title
- Christ Crowned with Thorns
- Artist Life
- 1471–1528
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.92.1
- Provenance
- Fürstlich Waldburg Wolfegg’sches Kupferstichkabinett, Wurtemberg (Lugt 2542); possibly in the first Waldburg-Wolfegg sale, H. G. Gutekunst, Stuttgart, May 20 and following days, 1901, as part of lot 403. Possibly sold Piasa, Paris, April 29, 2003, see lots 33-63. Thomas French Fine Art, Fairlawn, Ohio
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Bartsch 34; Meder 143 i/iii
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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