The Mocking of Christ

Title

[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

Painting on limewood

Medium

Painting on limewood

[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

The seated, bound Christ is surrounded by a throng of henchmen, who torment and mock him in a variety of ways. One of the henchmen puts his horn over Christ's ear. The scene takes in a vaulted room with an circular window.

[Görres, cda 2015]

Attributions: Dutch
Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attributions

Dutch	[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]
Lucas Cranach the Elder	Mistakenly attributed to Cranach in inventories [Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

Production date: 1500 - 1550

Production date

1500 - 1550

'first half of the 16th century' [Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

Dimensions: Dimensions of support: 42 x 28.5 cm

Dimensions

Dimensions of support: 42 x 28.5 cm
[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

Signature / Dating: None

Owner: Obrazárna Pražského hradu (Prague Castle Picture Gallery)
Repository: Obrazárna Pražského hradu (Prague Castle Picture Gallery)
Location: Prague

CDA ID: CZ_OPH_HS264
FR (1978) Nr.: FR-none
Persistent Link: https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_OPH_HS264/

Provenance

attributed to Cranach in the oldest inventories of the gallery
[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

Literature

Reference on page

Catalogue Number

Figure / Plate

Cat. Prague 1998

Author	Eliska Fucikova
Title	Obrazárna Prazského hradu. Pruvodce expozici
Place of Publication	Prague
Year of Publication	1998

Show Literature

Research History / Discussion

'In the oldest inventories of the Gallery, this painting is wrongly attributed to Lucas Cranach. Only the figure of Christ is slightly reminiscent of his work; the other figures are of another style. The wicked, mocking faces of Christ’s tormentors are derived from the figures of coarse rustics and the dregs of society depicted in various moralistic works by Nederlandish painters, from Quinten Massys to Jan Hemessen and Jan Massys. The way in which the soldiers humiliate and torture Christ goes considerably beyond how this scene is described in all four of the Gospels. Although the painting is not the work an exceptional artist, it is still interesting for its untraditional approach to a traditional theme.'

[Cat. Prague 1998, 70]

The Mocking of Christ, 1500 - 1550

Images

Technical studies

06. 2014Technical examination / Scientific analysis

Infrared reflectography

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

- an underdrawing is not readily visible; occasional evidence to suggest its presence (fluid, black medium and brush: e. g. the left hand of the man with the rolling-pin; the thumb on the right hand of the man putting a recorder in Christ's mouth)

[Smith, Sandner, Heydenreich, cda 2014]

photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich
photographed by Ingo Sandner

Versions

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author: <author's name>, 'The Mocking of Christ', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_OPH_HS264/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author: 'The Mocking of Christ', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/CZ_OPH_HS264/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

Help us to improve the Cranach Digital Archive.

Please contact us, if you have noticed a mistake.