Kruisiging

About this artwork

Een zilveren gedreven plaquette met een voorstelling van de Kruisiging. In het midden Christus aan het kruis. Aan de voet van het kruis knielt Maria Magdalena, ter rechterzijde staan Maria en Johannes.

Art Historical Context

**Kruisiging (Crucifixion)***Arent van Bol, ca. 1610* *Silver repouss plaque, 28.9 × 20.4 × 0.9 cm, 294 g* This exquisite silver plaque by Dutch silversmith Arent vanten captures the poignant moment of Christ's Crucifixion, a central theme in Christian art during the early 17th. At the center, hangs on the cross, his suffering figure drawing the eye. Kneeling at the foot is Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower, while to the right stand the Virgin Mary and St. John the Evangelist, embodying sorrow and witness. Created around 1610 in the Netherlands amid religious divides post-Reformation, such devotional images often served private piety in Catholic households, blending spiritual comfort with artistic skill. The plaque's repoussé technique—hammering silver from the reverse to form a raised relief—highlights Bolten's mastery of metalwork, a craft flourishing in the Dutch Golden Age. This labor-intensive method creates dramatic depth and texture on a portable scale, ideal for personal altars, prayer books, or jewelry caskets. Weighing just 294 grams, its intimate size invites close contemplation, reflecting the era's emphasis on tactile, everyday devotionals amid Protestant iconoclasm. Van Bolten's work exemplifies Northern European silvercraft's precision, where religious iconography persisted as a cultural bridge. Visitors will appreciate how this gleaming artifact, over 400 years old, still evokes the raw emotion of the biblical scene, bridging history and faith.

About the Artist

Arent van Bolten · 1573–1633

Netherlandish, Zwolle 1573–before 1633 Leeuwarden