Artwork

The Great Passion: The Lamentation of Christ

The Great Passion:  The Lamentation of Christ, by Albrecht Dürer, 1504
The Great Passion:  The Lamentation of Christ, by Albrecht Dürer, 1504

The Great Passion: The Lamentation of Christ is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1504 by Albrecht Dürer, a pivotal German Renaissance artist, *The Great Passion: The Lamentation of Christ* is a woodcut print exemplifying the era's artistic and thematic preoccupations.

Subject & Meaning

Depicting a mournful scene of Christ's Lamentation, the print captures the emotional intensity of Christian iconography prevalent during the Renaissance, with figures and nature conveying profound grief.

Technique & Style

Characterized by intricate, expressive lines and dramatic composition, the woodcut showcases Dürer's mastery of printmaking, blending detailed narrative with emotional depth, as twisted trees and poses amplify the sorrowful atmosphere.

History & Provenance

Now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, the work's early history and ownership trail before its acquisition are not detailed here, highlighting only its current institutional home.

Context

Emerging from the German Renaissance, this piece reflects the period's emphasis on narrative detail and emotional expression in religious art, aligning with Dürer's broader contributions to elevating printmaking as a respected medium.

Legacy

While the broader impact of *The Lamentation of Christ* on subsequent art movements or specific artists is not explicitly outlined, it remains a significant example of Dürer's influence on Renaissance printmaking and religious iconography.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Albrecht Dürer

Artist

Albrecht Dürer

Albrecht Dürer spent his life in Nuremberg, a busy German city where artists traded prints like currency.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.