Physical description
Christ in a cloak and wearing the crown of thorns stands on the top of a staircase on the left of the print and is shown to the crowd by Pilate who stands behind him in the doorway. On the right of the image is a crowd of people gathered to condemn Christ. Most are recognizable as the tormentors from preceding scenes in this series of prints of the Passion.
Place of Origin
Colmar, France (engraved)
Date
1479-80 (engraved)
Artist/maker
Schongauer, Martin, born 1430 - died 1491 (engraver)
Materials and Techniques
Engraving on laid paper
Marks and inscriptions
M + S
This print bears the collector's mark of A. Freiherr von Lanna (1836-1909)
D with double cross
4151
B.15
152
Dimensions
Height: 161 mm, Width: 112 mm
Historical context note
The series of the 'Passion of Christ' consisting of twelve sequential scenes is the largest set of engravings made by Martin Schongauer. It represents the continuation, on his part, of a traditional subject-cycle for fifteenth century engravers. Almost all of his predecessors had produced series illustrating the Passion of Christ. Schongauer's version is not only filled with agitation, drama and agony characteristic of German art in the fifteenth century, but he has also invested the scenes with a new and vital humanity. (from 'Martin Schongauer: The Complete Engravings' by Max Lehrs; pg 27)
As Master E.S. had done before him, and as Albrecht Durer would do later inspired by many of his compositions, Schongauer made a series of engravings of matching size detailing the events of Christ's Passion. Such cycles were as yet uncommon in the graphic arts, but were familiar from the illustrations for the canonical Hours of the Cross that appeared in illuminated manuscripts of the earlier fifteenth century. There are twelve plates in Schongauer's series which was widely copied across Europe, from France and the Netherlands to Poland and Hungary, in every graphic medium, as well as in painting and sculpture. (The Illustrated Bartsch, 8 Commentary, Part 1, pg.74).
Descriptive line
'Christ presented to the people' by Martin Schongauer; engraving; 1479-80
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
The Illustrated Bartsch, 8 Commentary, Part 1; .025 [B.15 (126), p.228]
The Illustrated Bartsch, 8, Formerly volume 6, Part 1; 15 (126), pg.228
Bartsch, Adam von, 'Le Peintre Gravure', Vienna, 1803-1821, Vol. VI, B.15, pg.126
Lehrs, Max 'Martin Schongauer, The Complete Engravings, A Catalogue Raisonne', catalogue no.25, pg.138
Hollstein German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts 1400-1700; compiled by Lothar Schmitt, edited by Nicholas Stogden; Volume XLIX, Ludwig to Martin Schongauer, page 65, no. 25; Sound & Vision Publishers Rotterdam/The Netherlands 1999.
Materials
Printing ink; Laid paper
Techniques
Engraving (printing process)
Subjects depicted
Jesus Christ; Dog; Pilate
Categories
Prints; Religion; Christianity; Hats & headwear
Collection code
PDP
