Who painted The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate?

The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1510.

Where can I see The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate?

The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate?

The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate

Albrecht Dürer , 1510

The Small Passion: Christ Before Pilate is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1510 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1510 by Albrecht Dürer, a central figure of the German Renaissance, this small print belongs to his series known as the Small Passion. The work portrays the biblical episode in which Jesus is presented before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Executed in fine line work and shading, the image is now part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures the moment of judicial interrogation: Christ stands before a seated Pilate, flanked by onlookers that include a sword‑bearing figure and a dog. The arrangement emphasizes the tension between divine innocence and earthly authority, a theme recurrent in Passion narratives, while the surrounding architecture with columns and arches frames the scene as a formal courtroom.

Technique & Style

Dürer employed the precise incising techniques of early 16th‑century printmaking, using delicate hatching to model the folds of garments and to suggest depth in the architectural backdrop. The careful modulation of line creates texture on clothing and flesh, while the contrast between light and shadow enhances the three‑dimensional illusion within the limited scale of the print.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Dürer’s mature period, when he was expanding from woodcuts to more refined engravings and small-scale prints. After circulating among collectors in the 16th century, the work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s European prints and drawings collection.