Christ appearing to Mary who is kneeling in prayer, from "The Passion of Christ"
Original title: Christ appearing to Mary who is kneeling in prayer, from "The Passion of Christ", after Dürer
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi made this engraving between 1500 and 1534. It shows Christ appearing to Mary as she kneels in prayer. The print belongs to a series on the Passion of Christ and is based on an invention by Albrecht Dürer.
Description
In front stands Christ, barefoot, in a long, belted robe, holding a cross staff. Light radiates from him, pointing to his divine nature. Mary kneels opposite, her gaze fixed on him, wearing a headscarf and ordinary clothing. Curtains and part of a window close off the space.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian Renaissance engraver, became known for his copies after Dürer. The series was made after Dürer's woodcut Passion and helped spread Dürer's pictorial ideas widely in Italy. This print dates from the time Raimondi worked in Rome and came into contact with artists such as Raphael.
Impact
Clear lines and the handling of light give the print a calm, devotional mood. Christ with the rays of light and the kneeling Mary create an intimate, spiritual atmosphere.
Technique
For engraving, lines are cut into a copper plate and then printed. Shading is achieved with thin, parallel lines that bring out light and shadow. The present impression is the second state of two, indicating later reworking of the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)