Christ on the Mount of Olives
probably c. 1509/1510
Medium
woodcut on laid paper
Dimensions
image/block: 12.7 × 9.8 cm (5 × 3 7/8 in.) sheet: 13.6 × 10.8 cm (5 3/8 × 4 1/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Rosenwald Collection
Accession Number
1943.3.3670
Art Historical Context
Behold Albrecht Dürer's *Christ on the Mount of Olives*, a masterful woodcut from around 1509–1510 that captures a pivotal moment from the Passion of Christ. In this intimate scene, likely depicting Jesus in agony amid his disciples during his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Dürer channels the emotional depth of Northern Renaissance devotion. As one of the era's greatest printmakers, Dürer elevated woodcuts from humble book illustrations to high art, blending meticulous detail with spiritual intensity. Crafted on laid paper—a fine, handmade sheet typical of the time—this small work (just ...
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 ...