Artwork
The Crowning with Thorns
The Crowning with Thorns is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1920 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1920 by the artist identified as 30276_person, this oil painting titled “The Crowning with Thorns” is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work presents a dramatic biblical episode in which Jesus Christ is depicted wearing a red robe, his hands lifted above his head, and a thorned crown pressed onto his brow.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the moment of Christ’s mock coronation, a scene traditionally associated with suffering and humiliation. Flanked by two figures—one grasping a staff and the other a cloth—the painting underscores the cruelty of the surrounding men while highlighting the saint’s dignified endurance amid torment.
Technique & Style
Executed with loose, expressive brushwork, the artist employs bold strokes and vivid coloration, especially the striking red of the robe against a muted gray background. Strong chiaroscuro modeling creates depth, allowing the figures to emerge from shadow and giving the scene a three‑dimensional presence despite its relatively simple setting.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings sometime after its creation, though precise acquisition details remain undocumented. Its dating to the early 1920s places it within a period when many artists revisited religious iconography through modernist visual vocabularies, reflecting contemporary reinterpretations of classic themes.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
