Artwork

Christ Appearing to the Magdalene as a Gardner

Christ Appearing to the Magdalene as a Gardner, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470
Christ Appearing to the Magdalene as a Gardner, by German 15th Century, paint, 1470

Christ Appearing to the Magdalene as a Gardner is a paint print by the Renaissance artist German 15th Century. It dates from 1470 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Christ Appearing to the Magdalene as a Gardener is a Renaissance metalcut print, hand-colored in a restrained palette of yellow, red-brown lake, and green. The scene depicts an intimate encounter between two haloed figures in a garden setting.

Subject & Meaning

The print illustrates a biblical moment where Christ, disguised as a gardener, appears to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection. Christ is shown holding a gardening tool, while Magdalene, in a long robe, clutches a jar, likely an allusion to her role as the bearer of ointment for Christ's burial.

Technique & Style

Executed as a metalcut, the print's lines and textures evoke a sense of delicacy. Hand-coloring in yellow, red-brown lake, and green adds depth, with a yellow leafy border framing the scene. The style aligns with Renaissance printmaking, emphasizing clarity and simple, effective use of color.

History & Provenance

Unfortunately, specific historical ownership or creation date details for this metalcut are not provided. It is attributed to the Renaissance period, a time of flourishing printmaking innovation in Europe.

Context

Created during the Renaissance, this metalcut reflects the period's religious themes and the growing popularity of printmaking as a medium for disseminating biblical narratives to a broader audience.

Artist & collection

Portrait of German 15th Century

Artist

German 15th Century

This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.

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