Christ Appearing to the Magdalen as a Gardener, from "The Passion of Christ"
Original title: Christ Appearing to the Magdalen as a gardener, from "The Passion of Christ", after Dürer
kurzbeschreibung
This engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi, made between about 1500 and 1534, captures the moment when Christ appears to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection. Raimondi based his design on a composition from Albrecht Dürer's Passion cycle. The print measures 13 × 10 cm and is the second of three states.
Description
Christ stands at the center as a gardener, dressed in a long robe and a hat, with an axe resting on his shoulder. Mary Magdalene kneels on the ground before him, holding a bowl as if to draw water. Trees, bushes, and a wall with distant figures fill the background. Light falls from above, highlighting the two main figures. The layout is clearly structured; precise lines and shading bring out the textures of the garments and surroundings.
Context
Raimondi was an Italian Renaissance engraver known for his reproductive prints after Dürer's works. The series 'The Passion of Christ' was based on Dürer's woodcut series, published in 1511. Raimondi's engravings spread Dürer's compositions in Italy, though he was also criticized for copyright infringement. This sheet belongs to a series dated around 1500–34, with the exact date within that period uncertain.
Impact
A calm, contemplative atmosphere emanates from the print, created by the symmetrical arrangement and soft light. Despite its small size, the scene feels remarkably monumental, giving the biblical encounter a timeless dignity. The fine linework invites close looking and conveys a sense of Dürer's original composition.
Technique
Lines are incised with a burin into a copper plate, which is then inked and printed on paper. Raimondi handled this technique with virtuosity, achieving subtle gradations of light and shadow through varied line spacing and density. This impression is the second of three states, indicating later reworkings of the plate.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)