Artwork
The Flagellation
The Flagellation is a print by the Renaissance artist Adamo Scultori. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Adamo Scultori’s print titled *The Flagellation* reproduces a biblical episode in which Christ is scourged. Executed on paper, the image translates a composition originally devised by Michelangelo into the medium of print, preserving the dramatic intensity of the scene while adapting it to a two‑dimensional format.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a nude figure bound to a column, subjected to blows from four assailants wielding whips and ropes. Architectural elements—a series of tall columns and an arched opening—frame the action, suggesting a courtyard setting. The work visualizes the Passion narrative, emphasizing Christ’s physical suffering as a focal point of Christian devotion.
Technique & Style
Scultori employed line engraving to render the figures and architectural backdrop, using fine hatching to model flesh and drapery. The stark contrast between the exposed torso and the loosely clothed attackers reflects Renaissance interests in anatomical accuracy and dynamic movement, echoing Michelangelo’s sculptural approach while exploiting the graphic potential of printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in the late sixteenth century, the print serves as a direct copy of Michelangelo’s celebrated painting of the same subject. By reproducing the composition, Scultori facilitated wider circulation of Michelangelo’s design, allowing collectors and devotional audiences to engage with the image beyond the original fresco’s location.
Context
The work belongs to a broader Renaissance practice of translating monumental paintings into prints, a method that disseminated iconic religious imagery across Europe. Such reproductions supported the spread of Counter‑Reformation iconography, reinforcing visual narratives of Christ’s Passion for both private contemplation and public instruction.
Artist & collection
Artist
Adamo Scultori (c.1530 – 1585), also referred to as Adamo Ghisi, was an Italian engraver, sculptor and artist.
