Artwork
The Flagellation
The Flagellation is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Daniele Crespi. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1624, The Flagellation is an oil painting by Milanese artist Daniele Crespi. Executed during the early Baroque, the work belongs to Crespi’s series of history paintings that focus on biblical narratives. It is presently part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays the moment of Christ’s scourging, showing the Savior from the waist up with his arms bound. A figure in a red robe stands behind him, wielding a whip, while a second man in a green robe and head covering observes from the right. The scene emphasizes the physical suffering and spiritual endurance of the crucifixion narrative.
Technique & Style
Crespi employs chiaroscuro, contrasting a dark, almost indeterminate background with sharply illuminated figures. The palette is restrained, dominated by earth tones that reinforce the somber atmosphere. The rendering of flesh and fabric is clear and direct, reflecting the artist’s shift away from the decorative Lombard Mannerism toward a more naturalistic Baroque approach.
History & Provenance
Active in Milan during the 1620s, Crespi produced The Flagellation as part of his religious output. After changing hands over the centuries, the painting entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on display as a representative example of his early‑Baroque religious work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Daniele Crespi (1598 – 19 July 1630) was an Italian painter and draughtsman. He is regarded as one of the most original artists working in Milan in the 1620s. He broke away from the exaggerated manner of Lombard…
