Artwork
The Round Passion: The Crucifixion
The Round Passion: The Crucifixion is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The Round Passion: The Crucifixion is a 1509 engraving by Lucas van Leyden, a Dutch Renaissance artist skilled in both painting and printmaking. Now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, this circular composition uniquely frames a pivotal biblical scene.
Subject & Meaning
The piece depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus, emphasizing emotional narrative through the figures of mourners below the cross. The scene conveys religious devotion and sorrow, characteristic of Northern Renaissance religious art.
Technique & Style
Van Leyden's precision in engraving is evident in the detailed textures, patterns, and ornate border adorned with leaves and figures. The muted color palette, dominated by browns and grays, adds to the somber mood.
History & Provenance
Created in 1509, the work reflects van Leyden's early influence on Dutch genre and religious painting. Its current location is The Cleveland Museum of Art, though earlier ownership history is not specified here.
Context
As a Northern Renaissance piece, it aligns with the period's focus on detailed narratives and expressive figures in religious themes, distinguishing it from contemporaneous Italian Renaissance works.
Legacy
While specific influences of *The Round Passion* on later artists are not detailed, van Leyden's overall contribution to Dutch printmaking and genre painting has been notable, with his works often cited in the history of Northern European art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
Salome with the head of St John the Baptist
The Virgin and Child
Worship of the Golden Calf
A Game of Chess
Mary with Child, St. Maria Magdalena and founder (separate outside, Inv. No. 7713)
Inner left wing of a diptych with Christ as the Man of Sorrows
Inner right wing of a diptych with the Virgin as Mater Dolorosa
Annunciation
