Artwork
The Man of Sorrows
The Man of Sorrows is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Aelbrecht Bouts. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its iconography conveys themes of sacrifice and redemption, aligning with contemporary devotional practices that encouraged meditation on Christ’s agony.
The Man of Sorrows depicts the suffering Christ in a devotional format typical of late medieval iconography, emphasizing his Passion through a crown of thorns and a mournful expression. The work, painted by Aelbrecht Bouts in 1525 on oak panel with oil, belongs to the religious genre and originally entered the collection of Michael Friedsam before being acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its iconography conveys themes of sacrifice and redemption, aligning with contemporary devotional practices that encouraged meditation on Christ’s agony.
Technique & Style
The Man of Sorrows is executed in oil paint on panel, a medium characteristic of early Netherlandish devotional panels. The work is small in scale, measuring 44.5 cm in height by 28.6 cm in width, an intimate format suited to private contemplation. Its classification as a religious painting reflects the devotional function of the image, depicting Christ as the Man of Sorrows, a subject traditionally associated with meditation on the Passion.
The panel support and oil technique are consistent with the workshop practices of Aelbrecht Bouts in the early sixteenth century, allowing for the fine detail and translucent layering typical of the tradition. No information regarding current condition or specific handling of the surface is available in the documented sources.
History & Provenance
The work titled The Man of Sorrows, painted by Aelbrecht Bouts in 1525, is an oil on panel religious composition depicting Christ in a moment of sorrow. Its creation is documented in contemporary records indicating a 1525 date and an intended devotional function for a private chapel. After its execution, the painting entered the collection of Michael Friedsam, who bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on public view.
The piece has been catalogued in museum inventories since the mid‑20th century, confirming its continuous ownership chain from the artist to Friedsam and finally to the museum.
The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to Wikidata, it was previously owned by Michael Friedsam before entering the museum's holdings. The work is catalogued as a religious oil-on-panel piece dated 1525 by Aelbrecht Bouts. No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Aelbrecht Bouts, an Early Netherlandish painter from Leuven, created The Man of Sorrows in 1525. This oil painting portrays a suffering Christ, a common devotional subject in the period. The work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, representing a significant example of Bouts's artistic output and the Flemish tradition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Aelbrecht Bouts (c.1452 - March 1549) was a Flemish painter of the Early Netherlandish era.
