The Lamentation of Christ (from The Large Passion)

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The Lamentation of Christ (from The Large Passion)

Artist Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471-1528)

Date1497

Dimensions15 9/16 x 11 1/4 in.

Mediumwoodcut

ClassificationPrints

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1923.56

Not on View

DescriptionColored by hand.

Label TextAlbrecht Dürer’s Lamentation derives its expressive power from both its technical complexity and narrative detail. The solemnity of the image, underscored by the grief-stricken figures’ poses and dramatic lighting, sets it apart from the other 11 woodcut images in The Large Passion series. Among the pyramidal grouping of mourners surrounding the dead Christ are St. John, who gently raises Christ’s shoulders, and Christ’s mother, the Virgin Mary, who tenderly lifts his bleeding hand. Dürer connects the strong emotional response of the foreground figures to the site of Christ’s crucifixion on the distant hillside through his skillful use of Renaissance principles of perspective (the realistic effect of three-dimensionality and receding space). This remarkable woodcut also stands out for its hand-coloring. Though not added by the artist himself, the colors used were possibly dictated by Dürer, to be followed when customers requested hand-colored impressions. The distinctive luminous palette with powdered gold and silver highlights (the silver has oxidized to gray) heightens the image’s emotive and mystical effect.Published ReferencesBartsch 13. Meder 122. Hollstein 122.Exhibition HistoryThe Passion and the Apocalypse: Albrecht Dürer's Renaissance, Oct 1,04 - Jan 2,05 TMA Durer Prints: Sept. 17 -Oct. 30, 1983 Toledo Museum of Art, Looks Good on Paper: Masterworks and Favorites, Oct. 10, 2014-Jan. 11, 2015.