Christ on the Mount of Olives
1508
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed to platemark): 11.4 × 7.2 cm (4 1/2 × 2 13/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.3499
Art Historical Context
Albrecht Dürer, the masterful German artist of the Northern Renaissance, created *Christ on the Mount of Olives* in 1508, a poignant engraving on laid paper measuring just 11.4 × 7.2 cm. This intimate print captures a pivotal moment from the Passion of Christ, depicting Jesus in agony during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, surrounded by sleeping disciples. Dürer's works from this period reflect the era's deep religious fervor, blending meticulous observation of nature with profound spiritual emotion, just before the Protestant Reformation reshaped European faith. Renowned for revoluti...
About the Artist
Albrecht Dürer · 1471–1528
Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) stands as the preeminent figure of the Northern Renaissance and arguably the most influential artist in the history of printmaking. Born in Nuremberg on May 21, 1471, and dying in the same city on April 6, 1528, Dürer revolutionized the status of the artist in Northern Europe, transforming printmaking from a commercial craft into an independent fine art and establishing ...