Christus bedreigd met steniging

About this artwork

height 111 mm x width 80 mm

Art Historical Context

**Christus Bedreigd met Steniging (Christ Threatened with St)** Created by the Dutch Northern Renaissance master Lucas van Leyden between 8 and 1522, this intimate artwork depicts a tense biblical moment from the Gospel of John, where faces an angry crowd poised to stone him. At just 111 mm high by 80 mm wide, its miniature scale on paper invites close inspection, drawing viewers into the drama of faith and peril. Lucas van Leyden, aigy engraver from Leiden born in 1494, revolutionized printmaking in the Netherlands with his intricate line work, rivaling Albrecht Dürer. Working in the early 16th century amid the Northern Renaissance, he blended meticulous detail with emotional intensity, often crowding compositions with expressive figures to heighten narrative tension. This piece exemplifies his skill in capturing human agitation through delicate hatching and cross-hatching on paper, a medium that allowed for affordable dissemination of religious imagery during the Reformation era. Its cultural significance lies in van Leyden's role bridging painting and print, making profound stories accessible beyond elite patrons. Though small, it showcases his innovative technique, preserving a vivid snapshot of devotion and conflict for generations of museum-goers.

About the Artist

Lucas van Leyden · 1484–1533

Lucas van Leyden (1494–1533) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who stands among the greatest engravers of the Northern Renaissance. Born in Leiden as either Lucas Hugensz or Lucas Jacobsz, he lived and worked primarily in his native city, achieving international renown that rivaled the German master Albrecht Dürer. Lucas van Leyden revolutionized Netherlandish printmaking and was among the first...