Crucifixion, from the series The Passion

Art Historical Context

Lucas van Leyden's *Crucifixion*, created in 1521, is a masterful engraving from his renowned series *The Passion*, which vividly recounts the final days of Christ. This Dutch Northern Renaissance artist, a prodigy who began engraving as a teenager, was celebrated for his extraordinary technical skill and ability to pack intricate narratives into tiny formats. Measuring just 4 3/8 x 2 7/8 inches (11.1 x 7.3 cm), the print invites close inspection, revealing a dramatic scene of Christ's crucifixion flanked by figures including men and women, capturing the emotional intensity of this pivotal bib...

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...