Christ on the Mount of Olives, from "The Large Passion"

Art Historical Context

Albrecht Dürer's *Christ on the Mount ofives* (1511) is a woodcut from his renowned series *The Large Passion a set of 11 depicting key moments in Christ's suffering. Here, Dürer captures the biblical scene from the Garden of Gethane, where Jesus prays in agony amid sleeping disciples, comforted by an angel. Rendered with dramatic tension, the composition draws viewers into the emotional intensity of the moment, blending profound spirituality with human vulnerability. As a pinnacle of Northern Renaissance printmaking, this woodcut showcases Dürer's revolutionary technique. Unlike earlier coarse woodcuts, he achieved extraordinary fine lines and textures by closely collaborating with skilled carvers, rivaling the precision of his engravings. Measuring 17 3/8 x 12 inches, the large format allowed for bold contrasts of light and shadow, making it ideal for both devotional study and public display during the early 16th century's religious fervor. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The George Khuner Collection, this print exemplifies Dürer's enduring influence on graphic arts. It not only democratized access to high art through affordable multiples but also bridged medieval piety with Renaissance humanism, inviting visitors to reflect on themes of faith and solitude that resonate across centuries.

About the Artist

Albrecht Dürer · 1471–1528

Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) stands as the preeminent figure of the Northern Renaissance and arguably the most influential artist in the history of printmaking. Born in Nuremberg on May 21, 1471, and dying in the same city on April 6, 1528, Dürer revolutionized the status of the artist in Northern Europe, transforming printmaking from a commercial craft into an independent fine art and establishing ...