The Crucifixion: Christ on the cross with Magdalen in foreground, from "The Passion of Christ"
Original title: The Crucifixion: Christ on the cross with Magdalen in foreground, from "The Passion of Christ", after Dürer
kurzbeschreibung
Christ hangs on the cross, Mary Magdalene kneels before him. Marcantonio Raimondi engraved this motif between 1500 and 1534. The print belongs to the series 'The Passion of Christ' and is based on a design by Albrecht Dürer.
Description
Above the crucified figure, the INRI sign is displayed; the crown of thorns and bare feet are clearly visible. At the foot of the cross, Magdalene kneels in a long robe, her head bowed, hands resting on the ground. Around her, figures crowd: armored soldiers, civilians, some with lances or swords, others with raised arms. In the foreground lie a skull and an open book showing the number '23'. The layout is symmetrical, and the light falls harshly with strong contrasts.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, became known chiefly for his reproductive engravings after Dürer and other masters. The exact date of this engraving cannot be determined—estimates range from 1500 to 1534; the third of three states survives. Such prints made foreign compositions widely available and sold rapidly among collectors.
Impact
The strict mirroring of the figures and the harsh contrasts of light and dark give the print a solemn and at the same time oppressive quality. The crowd of figures and the precise execution draw the eye to the cross and to Magdalene's grief.
Technique
For engraving, lines are incised into a metal plate and then inked with printer's black. The impression appears monochrome in black and white; fine tonal gradations and shadows arise from the density and spacing of the lines.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)