Based on the scripture from the Christian bible, "And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, 'Prophesy.' And the guards did strike him with the palms of their hands" (Mark 14:65). Central to the composition is Christ, who is both literally and symbolically worn down; his posture connotes a sense of defeat and lack of energy, while his gripped fingers on his knees give way to his inner turmoil. The figures that surround him are situated evenly across the composition, as Dürer pays close attention to the architectural space of this scene, with arched doorways that extend into the background and along the left side. According to W. Strauss (1980), "Christ is shown in the center, blindfolded, a detail mentioned only in the Gospel according to St. Mark. The henchman in the upper right is about to smite the Saviour, whereas the one below him has raised his right fist in a derisive gesture" (360).

Created c. 1511, this woodcut is from the series 'The Small Passion' printed on a fine laid paper. This original woodcut is a Meder c (of c) impression after the Latin Text Edition. This work is signed in the woodblock with Albrecht Dürer's monogrammed initials in the lower left.

Provenance:
This work features the below collector's stamps on verso:
1. Constantin Raderschatt (Lugt 623)
2. Dr. C. von Guerard (Lugt 1109)

CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ & COA: This work is fully documented and referenced in the below catalogue raisonnés and texts (copies will be enclosed as added documentation with the invoices that will accompany the final sale of the work):

1) Bartsch. (1981). The Illustrated Bartsch Vol. 10. Edited by Walter L. Strauss. Abaris Books: New York. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonnè no. 30.

2) Kurth, Dr. Willi, The Complete Woodcuts of Albrecht Dürer, 1963, listed as plate 236 and discussed on page 30.

3) Lugt, Frits. Les Marques de Collections de Dessins & d'Estampes. San Francisco, 1988. Signature stamps listed and illustrated as catalogue numbers 623 and 1109.

4) Meder, Joseph. Dürer-Katalog, Vienna, 1932. Listed as cat. no. 139 on pg. 139.

5) Scheller, Robert W. and Boon, Karel G. The Graphic Art of Albrecht Dürer, Hans Dürer and The Dürer School, Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 139 on pg. 112 and 121.

6) Schoch, R., et al. (2002). Albrecht Dürer: Das druckgraphische Werk, Band II Holzschnitte und Holzschnittfolgen. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 200 on pgs. 308-309.

7) Strauss, Walter L. Albrecht Dürer Woodcuts and Wood Blocks, Abaris Books, Inc.: New York, 1980. Listed and illustrated as catalogue raisonné no. 115 on pgs. 360-1.

8) A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this work.

About the Framing:
This work is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards, presented in complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical grade Plexiglas.