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Christ Descending into Hell, by Albrecht Altdorfer, ink, 1513

Christ Descending into Hell

Albrecht Altdorfer

1513

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Dominant colour

Overview

Christ Descending into Hell is a 1513 ink by Albrecht Altdorfer, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?
Albrecht Altdorfer
When & what style?
1513 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?
National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image depicts a dramatic scene from the Bible, with Christ descending into hell. The central figure, Christ, is shown in a dynamic pose, surrounded by other figures. The scene is rendered in a detailed and expressive style, with bold lines and textures. In the foreground, Christ is shown breaking down the gates of hell, while demons and other figures look on in awe. The background is dark and ominous, with hints of flames and smoke. The overall effect is one of intense drama and energy. The artist's use of woodcut techniques adds a sense of texture and depth to the image. To learn more about this technique, look up woodcut.

About the artist

Portrait of Albrecht Altdorfer
Artist

Albrecht Altdorfer

Albrecht Altdorfer (c. 1480 – 12 February 1538) was a German painter, engraver and architect of the Renaissance working in Regensburg. Along with Lucas Cranach the Elder and Wolf Huber he is regarded to be the main…

See the richer artist page

More by Albrecht Altdorfer

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