Artwork
The Round Passion: Christ Presented to the People
The Round Passion: Christ Presented to the People is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1923.746.9
- Credit line
- Gift of The Print Club of Cleveland
About this work
Overview
This round engraving by Lucas van Leyden depicts the moment when Christ is presented to a hostile crowd after his condemnation. The scene is set within a shallow vestibule that opens onto a townscape reminiscent of early‑sixteenth‑century Europe, framing the central figure of Christ amid an angry assembly.
Subject & Meaning
The work concentrates on the pivotal instant of Christ’s sentencing, emphasizing his isolation before a tumultuous mob. By placing the crucifixion figure in a confined architectural space, van Leyden underscores the tension between divine sacrifice and earthly opposition, inviting contemplation of the theological significance of the Passion.
Technique & Style
Van Leyden employed his characteristic fine, shallow incisions on a copper plate, producing delicate lines that render subtle tonal contrasts. The round format is bordered by a separate ring‑shaped plate, creating a decorative frame. Because such thin lines wear the plate quickly, surviving impressions of this quality are uncommon.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to a series of nine Passion scenes, each executed in a circular shape. These works were produced in the early 1500s, a period when van Leyden experimented with innovative compositional formats. The rarity of well‑preserved copies reflects the rapid deterioration of his lightly cut plates, making this example a valuable witness to his printmaking practice.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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