Christ before Pilate, from a series of sixteen prints of the Passion of Christ

Art Historical Context

"Christ before Pilate" is a compelling woodcut from 1538, part of a rare series of sixteen prints depicting the Passion of Christ. Attributed to Girolamo Grandi or an anonymous Italian of the 16th century, this captures the dramatic moment from the Gospels where Jesus stands trial before Pontius Pilate, by accusers and Roman guards. Measuring just over 10 by 6 inches, its intimate scale made it ideal for personal devotion or inclusion in prayer books during the Renaissance era. As a woodcut, the medium exemplifies the technical prowess of Italian printmaking in the 16th century. The artist ca...