The Ascension of Christ
ca. 1750
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
20 1/4 x 12 11/16 in. (51.5 x 32.2 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
A. Hyatt Mayor Purchase Fund, Marjorie Phelps Starr Bequest, 2000
Accession Number
2000.435
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold *The Ascension of Christ*, a striking etching by Johann Ignatzbal, created around 1750. This 18th-century print captures a pivotal biblical moment: Jesus rising to heaven, surrounded by adoring angels and the symbolic cross, evoking awe and spiritual elevation. Measuring an impressive 20¼ x 12⅝ inches, its grand scale draws viewers into the celestial drama, a common motif in Catholic art during the Baroque and Rococo eras, when such images inspired devotion amid Europe's religious fervor. Zimbal, an Austrian engraver, masterfully employed etching—a technique where acid etches intricate...