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Christ Crowned with Thorns

Drawing
Before 1621 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Van Dyck, Anthony (Sir) (artist)
Place of origin
Southern Netherlands (drawn)

Christ is seated on the right, while a captor presses a crown of thorns on his head with both hands; to the latter’s right, another man is holding a staff, while a third man supports Christ. On the left, a kneeling man presenting Christ with a reed; behind, a baluster, to which is attached a brazier on a long pole.

Object details

Category
Drawings
Object type
Drawing
TitleChrist Crowned with Thorns (published title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and brown ink, with brown wash on paper
Paper
Pen
Bistre
Drawing (Image-Making)
Wash Technique
Brief description
Drawing, Christ Crowned with Thorns; by Anthony Van Dyck, Pen and brown ink, with brown wash; Flemish School; Before 1621
Physical description
Christ is seated on the right, while a captor presses a crown of thorns on his head with both hands; to the latter’s right, another man is holding a staff, while a third man supports Christ. On the left, a kneeling man presenting Christ with a reed; behind, a baluster, to which is attached a brazier on a long pole.
Dimensions
  • Height: 240 mm
  • Width: 209 mm
Style
Flemish School
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed at lower right, in brown ink (with the museum’s Dyce inv. no.), 525.
Gallery label
This is a preparatory drawing for the painting of the same title in the Museo del Prado, Madrid. Van Dyck uses free, energetic strokes and strong washes to convey an intense religious sentiment, which is characteristic of Catholic Counter-Reformation doctrine. The visible alterations to the drawing or pentimenti, like the changed position of the figure crowning Christ, show Van Dyck’s thinking.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Rev. Alexander Dyce
Object history
Jonathan Richardson jun. (1694–1771), London (L. 2170); Rev. Alexander Dyce (1798–1869), London, by whom bequeathed to the museum (L. Suppl. 153b), 1869.
Subjects depicted
Crown of Thorns
Men
Jesus Christ
Crown of Thorns
Bibliographic references
  • Jane Shoaf Turner and Christopher White, Catalogue of Dutch and Flemish Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, 2014), vol. II, cat. 474, pp. 402-5
  • DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
  • Horst Vey, Die Zeichnungen Anton van Dycks (Brussels: Verlag Arcade, 1962), no. 72
  • Lambert, Susan. Drawing: Technique & Purpose. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1981. p.44.
  • The Young Van Dyck Madrid, Museo Nacional del Prado, 2013. ISBN: 9788484802556.
  • Roose, Max, 'De tekeningen der Vlaamsche meesters', Onze Kunst, ii 1903), p.136
  • Gluck, Gustav, Van Dyck, des Meisters Gemalde, New York, 1931
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
DYCE.525

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1028248/christ-crowned-with-thorns-drawing-van-dyck-anthony/
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