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Pilate Washing His Hands

German 15th Century

1475

paint

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Pilate Washing His Hands is a 1475 paint by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: German 15th Century
When & what style?: 1475 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This image shows four men in a small, crowded scene. The man in the center holds his hands up, as if washing them. Two others stand close, watching, while the fourth leans on a table. The background has a simple building with a roof and a few trees. Colors are flat—mostly yellows, greens, and browns—with sharp outlines. The central figure looks like he’s avoiding blame, a common theme in religious stories. The style is stiff and symbolic, not lifelike. This kind of scene was often used to teach lessons. Next, look into the Renaissance to see how art changed during this time.