Artwork
Mocking of Christ
Mocking of Christ is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Maes. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The mocking of Christ refers to the treatment Jesus received from Roman soldiers before his execution, a common subject in religious art.
The painting shows Christ crowned with thorns, a scene drawn from the biblical narrative of the Crucifixion. The mocking of Christ refers to the treatment Jesus received from Roman soldiers before his execution, a common subject in religious art. Maes depicts a soldier holding a crown of thorns above a suffering figure identified as Jesus, emphasizing the moment of mockery. The work belongs to the religious genre and reflects Counter-Reformation themes of suffering and sacrifice.
Technique & Style
Created in 1650, the Mocking of Christ is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 190.5 cm in height and 119.5 cm in width. As a religious genre piece, it depicts the Crowning with Thorns, featuring figures such as Jesus Christ and soldiers. The painting is currently held in the Hermitage Museum collection.
History & Provenance
The painting 'Mocking of Christ' was created in 1650 in the Netherlands. While primarily attributed to Nicolaes Maes, the work has also been associated with Karel van der Pluym, Reynier van Gherwen, and Rembrandt. Executed in oil on canvas, the piece entered the collection of the Hermitage Museum through the ownership of Grigory Kushelev-Bezborodko.
The artwork, which depicts the Crowning with Thorns, has been featured in exhibitions such as 'Dutch masters from the Hermitage.'
The work titled Mocking of Christ, painted by Nicolaes Maes in 1650, is housed in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. It bears the inventory number that identifies it within the museum's collection, though the specific accession code is not detailed in the sources. The painting was part of the exhibition 'Dutch Masters from the Hermitage,' which highlighted key works from the museum's Dutch Golden Age holdings.
Overview
Nicolaes Maes, a pupil of Rembrandt, painted Mocking of Christ circa 1650. Executed in oil on canvas, the work belongs to the Dutch Golden Age and is now part of the State Hermitage Museum’s collection.
Context
Religious scenes such as this were a notable genre in 17th‑century Dutch art, reflecting both devotional practice and the era’s interest in dramatic narrative rendered through masterful light effects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaes Maes (January 1634 – December 1693; buried 24 December 1693) was a Dutch painter known for his genre scenes, portraits, religious compositions and the occasional still life.
