Artwork
Christ Taking Leave of his Mother
Christ Taking Leave of his Mother is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Cornelis Engebrechtsz.. It dates from 1517 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of religious art created in 1517, the piece focuses on the emotional separation between Jesus and the Virgin Mary before his arrest and crucifixion.
The painting depicts the biblical moment of Christ taking leave of his Mother, a scene drawn from the Passion narrative. As a work of religious art created in 1517, the piece focuses on the emotional separation between Jesus and the Virgin Mary before his arrest and crucifixion. The composition centers on this farewell, emphasizing the human sorrow and divine purpose inherent in the event.
The subject is explicitly identified as the departure of Christ from his mother, reflecting the devotional themes common in early 16th-century Northern European religious painting.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on a wooden panel in 1517, the work exhibits the refined handling typical of early sixteenth-century Leiden painters. The composition favors crisp drapery folds and sharply delineated physiognomies, aligning with Northern Renaissance conventions for narrative clarity. Figures are arranged in a shallow, stage-like space, with Christ and the Virgin centrally positioned and subsidiary donors introduced at the margins.
The palette relies on translucent glazes over a warm priming, producing luminous flesh tones and saturated drapery hues. No specific condition report is provided in the cited sources.
History & Provenance
The painting Christ Taking Leave of his Mother was created by Cornelis Engebrechtsz. in 1517 in Leiden. Executed in oil paint on a panel, the work measures 54.2 cm in height and 43.3 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the piece was once owned by the art dealer Franz Kleinberger. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
The painting Christ Taking Leave of his Mother by Cornelis Engebrechtsz. is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Created in 1517 on an oil-on-panel support, the work measures 54.2 cm in height and 43.3 cm in width. Prior to its current location, the piece was owned by the art dealer Franz Kleinberger. The provided sources do not contain specific accession numbers or a documented exhibition history for this work.
Context
Cornelis Engebrechtsz.'s Christ Taking Leave of his Mother, dated 1517, stands as a significant example of early 16th-century religious painting from Leiden. Executed in oil on panel, the work depicts the biblical moment of Christ's farewell to the Virgin Mary. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
As a product of Engebrechtsz.'s workshop during a period of evolving Northern Renaissance styles, the painting reflects the artist's contribution to religious iconography in the Low Countries.
Overview
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., an early 16th‑century painter from Leiden, executed the oil painting Christ Taking Leave of his Mother in 1517. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It presents a quiet, intimate moment drawn from the Passion narrative, rendered with clear detail and a balanced composition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Engebrechtsz., also known as Cornelis Engelbrechtsz. (c.1462–1527) was an early Dutch painter. He was born and died in Leiden, and is considered the first important painter from that city. Engebrechtsz. taught…
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