Christ and the Centurion
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brown wash, over red and black chalk, heightened with white
Dimensions
7 15/16 x 10 1/16 in. (20.2 x 25.5 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Accession Number
1975.131.92
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the 17th-century drawing *Christ and the Centurion*, attributed to Sébastien Bourdon or an anonymous French artist of the period, we witness a poignant biblical scene from the Gospel Matthew (8:5–13). Here, the Roman centurion humbly kneels before Jesus, for the healing of his paralyzed servant—a story emphasizing faith transcending social barriers. Bourdon, a prominent French Baroque painter influenced by Italian masters like Caravaggio, often explored such dramatic religious narratives, blending realism with emotional depth. Crafted with pen and brown ink, brown wash over red and black c...
About the Artist
Sébastien Bourdon|Anonymous, French, 17th century · 1616–1671
Sébastien Bourdon (1616–1671) was a French Baroque painter of remarkable versatility and restless ambition, whose career carried him from the workshops of Paris to the courts of Rome and Stockholm before he returned to France to become a founding member of one of Europe's most important artistic institutions. Born on 2 February 1616 in Montpellier into a Protestant family, Bourdon was apprenticed ...