Artwork
Christ before Annas
Christ before Annas is an ink print by the Baroque artist French 17th Century. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Christ before Annas is an early‑modern engraving depicting a moment from the Passion narrative. The composition places the crucified figure standing before the high priest Annas, who sits with a stern expression, while a Roman guard restrains Christ’s arm and other figures gesture toward him. The work is executed on paper and belongs to the print medium.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures the interrogation of Jesus by Annas, a moment that emphasizes the tension between divine authority and earthly power. The presence of the guard and the pointing gestures underscore the accusation and humiliation faced by Christ, inviting contemplation of his suffering and the legal proceedings that preceded his crucifixion.
Technique & Style
Created in France during the 17th century, the engraving employs fine, sharply defined lines arranged in cross‑hatching to model form and generate deep shadows. This meticulous line work produces a palpable sense of volume and tension, rendering the figures with a realistic immediacy that heightens the dramatic atmosphere of the encounter.
History & Provenance
Among the relatively few French engravings of the 1600s, this print is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its inclusion in a major public institution reflects its significance as an example of French printmaking practice in the early modern period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Seventeenth-century French printmakers worked in burin and acid. See the Beggar Woman with Rosary (1622), etched on laid paper with her hands folded in prayer, or The Siege of La Rochelle (1628/1631), one sheet from a…
![Two Reclining Figures [verso], by French 17th Century](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/french-17th-century--two-reclining-figures-verso--06163eb1c0b367f2-w320.webp)
