Artwork
Man of Sorrows
Man of Sorrows is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A bearded man sits bare-chested at the center, hands pressed together, a crown of thorns on his head and his face calm but tired. Four robed figures stand close on either side, looking toward him, their postures gentle. The dark background carries gold leaf patterns, and the panel's edges are worn. Made around 1500.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features Christ as the primary figure, accompanied by a group of mourners that includes the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist.
Created around 1500, this anonymous religious painting centers on the devotional theme of the Man of Sorrows, a representation of Jesus Christ following his Passion. The composition features Christ as the primary figure, accompanied by a group of mourners that includes the Virgin Mary and John the Evangelist. An angel is also present within the scene, contributing to the narrative of sorrow and reverence surrounding the suffering Savior.
As a work of religious art, the image serves as a focal point for meditation on Christ's sacrifice, utilizing these traditional figures to evoke empathy and spiritual reflection in the viewer.
Technique & Style
The work is recorded as a painting created around 1500 and classified as religious art; it portrays the Man of Sorrows within a composition that also includes an angel, the Virgin Mary, and Saint John, as documented in the catalogue entries. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. While the precise materials, support, and technical execution are not detailed in the available records, the classification as a painting confirms the use of pigment on a planar support typical of early sixteenth-century easel works. The formal arrangement emphasizes a central, suffering Christ figure, reflecting the devotional style of the period.
History & Provenance
The Man of Sorrows is an anonymous religious painting created around 1500, depicting Christ alongside the Virgin Mary, John the Evangelist, and an angel. Its original commission and ownership history prior to entering the museum are unrecorded; the artist is identified only as anonymous. The painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The available records do not specify an accession number or any exhibition history for the work.
Overview
The painting titled Man of Sorrows depicts a solitary, bare-chested male figure at its core, his hands clasped together. He is flanked by four robed individuals, two on each side, who direct their gaze downwards or towards him. This composition places the central figure as the clear focal point, surrounded by a supportive group within the panel's confines.
Artist & collection
The Entombment
Two Scenes of Christ and the Apostles
Scourging of Christ and the Crucifixion
The Lamentation
The Adoration of the Magi
The Lamentation
The Crucifixion
The Crucifixion
Dormition of the Virgin Relief
Virgin and Child, the Coronation of the Virgin and scenes from the Nativity
The Nativity with the Adoration of the Magi, the Crucifixion and the Last Judgement- The Man of Sorrows
