Artwork
The Round Passion: The Flagellation
The Round Passion: The Flagellation 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
The scene is packed with figures in different poses, all inside a round frame filled with decorative patterns.
This engraving shows a man tied to a post while others surround him—some holding sticks, others watching. The scene is packed with figures in different poses, all inside a round frame filled with decorative patterns. The man in the center looks calm, while the crowd around him seems tense or angry.
The year "1509" is written at the top, meaning this was made over 500 years ago. The artist used deep shadows and sharp lines to create drama and depth in the scene.
Look up chiaroscuro to see how this technique works in other art.
Overview
Lucas van Leyden’s 1509 engraving, titled *The Round Passion: The Flagellation*, presents a compact, circular composition that captures a moment from the biblical narrative of Christ’s suffering. Executed in black-and-white line work, the image is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the artist’s early‑modern approach to printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a bound man, identified as Jesus, positioned against a post while a crowd of onlookers and tormentors surrounds him. The surrounding figures, some wielding rods and others observing, convey a tense atmosphere that underscores the brutality of the flagellation episode within the Passion story.
Technique & Style
Van Leyden employs strong chiaroscuro, using deep shadows and crisp incised lines to model forms and suggest volume within the limited medium of engraving. The circular frame is adorned with ornamental motifs that both contain and accentuate the dramatic action, while the varied poses of the figures create a dynamic, crowded scene.
History & Provenance
Created in the early sixteenth century, the print reflects van Leyden’s reputation as one of the first Dutch artists to explore genre subjects through print. After circulating among collectors, the work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains a documented example of his printmaking output.
Context
At a time when religious narratives dominated visual culture, van Leyden’s work demonstrates the transition from medieval iconography to a more naturalistic representation of human emotion and interaction. The round format, unusual for the period, aligns with contemporary experiments in framing and decorative design.
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.
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