Christ before Caiaphas, from Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi

About this artwork

This woodcut depicts Christ standing before the High Priest Caiaphas during his trial, created by Hans Schäufelein in 1507 for Ulrich Pinder's "Speculum passionis domini nostri Ihesu Christi" (Mirror of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ). The image forms part of a comprehensive narrative cycle illustrating Christ's Passion through seventy-six woodcuts, published in Nuremberg on August 30, 1507, by physician and author Ulrich Pinder. The composition shows the confrontation between Christ and r...

Art Historical Context

In the woodcut *Christ before Caiaphas from Ulrich Pinder's *Spec passionis domini nostrihesu Christi* ( of the Passion of Our Jesus Christ), created in 1507, we witness a pivotal moment from Christ's trial. Hans Schäufelein depicts Jesus standing before the High Priest Caiaphas, by accusers in a tense confrontation between divine innocence and religious authority. This print is one of seventy-six woodcuts illustrating the full Passion narrative, published in Nuremberg by physician-author Pinder to inspire deep meditation on Christ's suffering amid early 16th-century Germany's fervent religious piety—just before the Reformation. Schäufelein, who crafted most of the series alongside Hans Baldung Grien (both alumni of Albrecht Dürer's workshop), infuses the scene with expressive line work and dramatic gestures typical of German Renaissance printmaking. These bold, intricate cuts capture emotion and movement, echoing Dürer's innovations while showcasing their unique flair. As a woodcut measuring 9 9/16 × 6 1/2 inches, this affordable medium democratized devotional art, reaching beyond elite patrons to everyday believers. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Junius S. Morgan, 1919), it exemplifies a golden age of narrative prints, blending faith, artistry, and cultural fervor.

About the Artist

Hans Schäufelein|Ulrich Pinder|Friedrich Peypus · 1480–1540

Hans Schäufelein (c. 1480–c. 1540) was a German painter and graphic artist of the Northern Renaissance whose career placed him at the heart of one of the most dynamic artistic environments in European history. As a young man, he entered the workshop of Albrecht Dürer in Nuremberg, an experience that proved decisive: Dürer's meticulous approach to draughtsmanship, his mastery of printmaking, and hi...