Artwork
Christ Taken Captive
Christ Taken Captive is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ Taken Captive is a 1509 woodcut by Lucas Cranach the Elder, a prominent artist of the German Renaissance.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a chaotic scene from the Passion of Christ, with a central figure in a white robe surrounded by armed men, conveying a sense of urgency and tension.
Technique & Style
Cranach employed sharp lines and heavy shading to create a dynamic composition, characteristic of his work in the woodcut medium.
History & Provenance
Created during Cranach's tenure as court painter to the Electors of Saxony, Christ Taken Captive reflects his early focus on religious themes rooted in Catholic traditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
