Who painted The Lamentation?

The Lamentation was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1498.

Where can I see The Lamentation?

The Lamentation is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is The Lamentation?

The Lamentation is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Lamentation?

Museum-quality prints of The Lamentation are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Lamentation

Albrecht Dürer , 1498

The Lamentation is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the dead body of Jesus following his crucifixion, a scene derived from narratives within the New Testament.

Albrecht Dürer's woodcut, created in 1498 as part of the Great Passion series, illustrates the Lamentation of Christ. The composition focuses on the dead body of Jesus following his crucifixion, a scene derived from narratives within the New Testament. As a work of German Renaissance religious art, the print serves as a devotional image intended to evoke empathy and contemplation regarding the suffering and sacrifice of Christ.

The iconography centers strictly on the mourning over the deceased savior, adhering to traditional theological representations of this specific moment in the Passion cycle.

History & Provenance

Albrecht Dürer created the woodcut The Lamentation in 1498 as part of his Great Passion series. The work depicts the Lamentation of Christ, a scene derived from the New Testament, and belongs to the German Renaissance movement. While the primary inception date is established as 1498, some records also reference dates such as 1497 and 1500.

The print measures 39 cm in height by 28 cm in width. The creation history is tied to Dürer's extensive work on religious woodcuts during this period, though specific commission details for this individual sheet are not detailed in the provided sources.

Multiple impressions of Albrecht Dürer's 1498 woodcut The Lamentation are held in major public collections. Specific institutional holdings include the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Other repositories listed with this work are the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum; the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Albertina; the Rosenwald Collection at the National Gallery of Art; the Chester Beatty Library; and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The work is part of Dürer's Great Passion series. No specific accession numbers or exhibition history dates are provided in the available sources.

Overview

The Lamentation is a woodcut print by Albrecht Dürer, dating to circa 1498, representing a somber religious scene.

Technique & Style

Dürer's innovative use of simple lines achieved complex emotional resonance, characteristic of his skill in woodcut, a technique he helped advance with such nuanced designs.

Context

Emerging in the late 15th century, this work reflects the religious themes prevalent in European art of the time, while its style hints at the impending Renaissance humanism.

Legacy

The Lamentation contributes to Dürer's legacy as a woodcut innovator, influencing subsequent generations in both religious art and the technical advancement of printmaking.