Christuskind als Salvator Mundi

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Pieter van Bleeck, created in 1754, depicts the Christ Child in the traditional role of Salvator Mundi, or Savior of the World. The young Jesus is shown blessing with one hand while holding an orb, a symbol of earthly dominion and divine authority. Rendered in the precise lines of engraving, the work measures 356 by 253 millimeters and reflects the enduring appeal of Christian iconography during the mid-eighteenth century. Engraving allowed religious images like this to reach a broad audience through affordable prints. Van Bleeck’s technique captures delicate modeling and expressive detail, transforming a sacred subject into an intimate devotional object suitable for private contemplation. The presence of the collector’s mark “Lugt 240” on the verso further indicates that the print once belonged to a distinguished European collection, underscoring its value to connoisseurs of the period. Together, the work illustrates how eighteenth-century artists continued to reinterpret familiar biblical themes through refined printmaking, bridging devotional tradition with the growing print market of the Enlightenment era.

About the Artist

Pieter van Bleeck · 1700–1764

Probably born in the Hague. He was a painter of portraits and is particularly remembered for his portraits of actors in their roles. He was also an engraver and made engravings after works by Murillo, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Lely, and others. Comment on works: Portraits; theatrical scenes