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 in 1612, this original woodcut is monogrammed in the woodblock 'AD' in the lower left. This work is from the Italian edition of 1612 with Italian text on verso.
