Domine, Quo Vadis
1592–1664
Medium
Black chalk, highlighted with white, on brown paper; cropped to the shape of a lunette
Dimensions
7-5/16 x 10-7/16 in. (18.5 x 26.5 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Van Day Truex Fund, 1988
Accession Number
1988.307
Tags
Art Historical Context
Jacopo Vignali (1592–1664), a Florentine artist active during the Baroque era, captures a pivotal moment from Christian legend his drawing *Domine, Quo Vadis*. The title, for "Lord, where you going?", refers to apocryphal story from the Acts of Peter, where the fleeing apostle encounters Christ on the road to Rome Jesus reveals he is returning to be crucified anew, inspiring Peter to face his martyrdom. The tag "Cross" hints at this theme of sacrifice and faith, central to Counter-Reformation art that emphasized devotion and biblical drama. Executed in black chalk heightened with white on bro...