← Marcantonio Raimondi Marcantonio Raimondi — The Cleansing of the Temple; Christ driving the money-changers from the temple and raising a scourge over his left shoulder, as if to strike a man on the floor, from "The Passion of Christ"

Marcantonio Raimondi — The Cleansing of the Temple; Christ driving the money-changers from the temple and raising a scourge over his left shoulder, as if to strike a man on the floor, from "The Passion of Christ"

The Cleansing of the Temple; Christ driving the money-changers from the temple and raising a scourge over his left shoulder, as if to strike a man on the floor, from "The Passion of Christ"

Original title: The Cleansing of the Temple; Christ driving the money-changers from the temple and raising a scourge over his left shoulder, as if to strike a man on the floor, from "The Passion of Christ"

Artist: Marcantonio Raimondi
Date: ca. 1500–34
Medium: Engraving; second state of three
Dimensions: Sheet: 5 1/8 in. × 4 in. (13 × 10.2 cm)
Credit line: Gift of Henry Walters, 1917

kurzbeschreibung

Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple is a subject Marcantonio Raimondi engraved between about 1500 and 1534. At the center stands Christ with a raised whip, surrounded by figures who flee or fall to the ground. The print belongs to the series 'The Passion of Christ' and exists here in the second of three states.

Description

Christ, dressed in a simple robe and with long curly hair, moves dynamically through the image. The whip swings over his left shoulder, aimed at a man lying on the ground. Around him are several figures in various poses—some turn to flee, others collapse or freeze. The layout is distinctly asymmetrical; the figures in the rear are less detailed, drawing the eye to Christ. Light seems to fall from above, as can be seen in the shadows beneath the bodies and on the faces.

Context

Raimondi, an Italian Renaissance engraver, became known above all for his reproductive prints after Raphael. 'The Passion of Christ' was made in Rome in the first half of the 16th century. Today the work is kept at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is available there as public domain (CC0).

Impact

Christ's energetic posture and the agitated movement of the bystanders create a palpable tension. Precise lines and sharp contours give the print a clear, detailed appearance that draws the viewer directly into the biblical event.

Technique

This print is an engraving: the image is cut into a copper plate with a burin. Tonal gradations come from varying the depth and density of the lines, which produce gray values when printed. The present impression is the second of three states, indicating that the plate was reworked after the first printing.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)