Christ on the Mount of Olives (B. 54; M., Holl. 162; S.M.S. 223)

Details

Albrecht Dürer
Christ on the Mount of Olives
(B. 54; M., Holl. 162; S.M.S. 223)
woodcut, circa 1508-09, watermark Large City Gate (M. 260), a very good, clear impression of this rare woodcut, with small margins, in very good condition
B. 5 1/16 x 3 13/16 in. (128 x 97 mm.)
S. 5 1/8 x 4 in. (131 x 101 mm.)

Provenance

Franz von Hagens (1817-1899), Dresden (L. 1052a); his posthumous sale, C. G. Boerner, Leipzig, 2-3 May 1927, lot 193 (Mk 100).
Albert W. Blum (1882-1952), Germany, Switzerland and Short Hills, New Jersey (L. 79 b and 3198); Sotheby's, New York, 27 February 1988, lot 1095 (US$4,070).

Special Notice

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Lot Essay

In the related scene from the Engraved Passion (lot 36) Dürer was to use dramatic lighting effects to convey the agitation of the scene. In the etching of 1515 (lot 52) he relied upon the dynamic quality of the lines themselves. Here he uses the surrounding vegetation and landscape forms to amplify the emotional content of the scene, as Christ is confronted with the chalice, and Judas and the soldiers enter the gate.

This print was originally conceived as part of the Small Woodcut Passion, but was then replaced by another print of the same subject (M. 135).

It is not known why Dürer rejected the present composition, but it was never included in the edition of the series and lifetime impressions from this block are extremely rare.

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