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← Marcantonio Raimondi Marcantonio Raimondi — Christ kneeling and washing St Peter's feet, from "The Passion of Christ"

Christ kneeling and washing St Peter's feet, from "The Passion of Christ"

Original title: Christ kneeling and washing St Peter's feet, from "The Passion of Christ"

Artist
Marcantonio Raimondi
Date
ca. 1500–34
Medium
Engraving; third state of three
Dimensions
Sheet: 5 1/8 × 4 1/16 in. (13 × 10.3 cm)
Credit line
Gift of Henry Walters, 1917

kurzbeschreibung

In this engraving from the series 'The Passion of Christ', Jesus kneels to wash the feet of the apostle Peter. Marcantonio Raimondi created the print between about 1500 and 1534. It is the third state of three.

Description

Jesus kneels in the middle of the scene, washing Peter's feet and holding a plate. Peter sits elevated, looking down at Jesus. Both wear long Renaissance garments and beards. Other figures watch the event. The room features wall paneling and a ceiling lamp. Fine hatching and lines model light and shadow in monochrome.

Context

Marcantonio Raimondi, an Italian Renaissance engraver, became known for his reproductive engravings after Raphael and others. The 'Passion of Christ' series was made in the first half of the 16th century and includes scenes from the Passion story. The foot washing is considered a key event in the Gospel of John and often appears in art as a symbol of humility. Raimondi's engravings circulated widely and influenced many artists of his time and later.

Impact

The encounter between Jesus and Peter feels calm and dignified. The linework and balanced distribution of light create an intimate, almost devotional mood. Precisely rendered garments and architecture demonstrate Raimondi's craftsmanship.

Technique

In an engraving, lines are incised into a metal plate and then printed on paper. Fine hatching produces nuanced gray tones and a sense of volume. The third state may show revisions or additions compared to earlier impressions.

AI-generated description text

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