On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Christ crowned with thorns

Statuette
ca. 1500-1520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Lower Rhine (made)
Netherlands (made)

This sculpture of Christ crowned with thorns is relatively large. It was therefore probably made as a single religious image rather than as part of an altarpiece. Christ sits with his hands bound together and his head crowned with thorn branches. The thorns themselves consisted of nails and a good number of them remain. The architect and designer A. W. N. Pugin originally owned the figure. When the V&A bought it, records state that the bench was gilded and that 'Christ wears a dark-bluish black robe with ochre'. A later hand-written addition to the records (dated April 1933) states: 'Paint & gilding (modern) removed by Art Work Room'.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Religion
Christianity
Object type
Statuette
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Statuette Ecce Homo
  • Fragment
Titles
  • Christ crowned with thorns (generic title)
  • Herrgottsruh (popular title)
  • Repose of the Lord (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Carved oak
Brief description
Statuette ecce homo. Rhine, ca. 1500-1520.
Physical description
Christ sits on a bench with blind tracery, his hand bound together and his head crowned with thorn branches. The torns themselves consist of nails, a good number of which remain.Barefoot, he is dressed in a heavy robe and looks to his right.
Dimensions
  • Height: 69cm
  • Width: 51cm
  • Depth: 30cm
Gallery label
(26/11/2010)
Christ Crowned with Thorns
About 1500–20
As part of his persecution before his crucifixion, Christ
was crowned with thorns in a mocking reference to his
claim to be King of the Jews.
The relatively large size of the sculpture suggests that it
was intended as a single devotional image. The image
of Christ with the crown of thorns provided a powerful
example of his endurance in the face of suffering,
and such figures were often placed in side-aisles or in
special chapels.
North Netherlands or Germany, Lower Rhine
Oak
Museum no. A.35-1921
Object history
A.W.N. Pugin collection (Pugin sale, S. Leigh Sotheby & John Wilkinson, London, 12 February 1853, lot 23, bought by George Hull, London, £3 5s), Royal Architectural Museum, Architectural Association, London, before 1877; bought from the Architectural Association in 1921.

Historical significance: Christ is shown at a point in his passion where, after the Flagellation and before the Crucifixion, he has been crowned with thorns and mocked by the Roman soldiers.
Historical context
The relatively large size of the present sculpture suggest that it was intended as a single devotional image than as part of a program of an altarpiece.
Production
Probably North Netherlands or Lower Rhine
Subjects depicted
Christianity
Crown of Thorns
Jesus Christ
Summary
This sculpture of Christ crowned with thorns is relatively large. It was therefore probably made as a single religious image rather than as part of an altarpiece. Christ sits with his hands bound together and his head crowned with thorn branches. The thorns themselves consisted of nails and a good number of them remain. The architect and designer A. W. N. Pugin originally owned the figure. When the V&A bought it, records state that the bench was gilded and that 'Christ wears a dark-bluish black robe with ochre'. A later hand-written addition to the records (dated April 1933) states: 'Paint & gilding (modern) removed by Art Work Room'.
Bibliographic references
  • Williamson, Paul. Netherlandish Sculpture 1450-1550. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 2002, cat. no. 5.
  • Bottoms, Edward. The Royal Architectural Museum in the light of new documentary evidence. Journal of the History of Collections. vol. 19. no. 1, 2007. pp. 133, 139. note. 229.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.35-1921

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Record createdDecember 5, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71513/christ-crowned-with-thorns-statuette-unknown/
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