Paintings of Christ before Pilate in the United Kingdom (1 C) Cathedral (Siena) - Maestà - Christ accused by the pharisees (3 F). One of the most powerful prints composed by Rembrandt is undoubtedly Christ before Pilate. Rembrandt wiped the ink differently each time he printed, thus creating several renditions of one image.
References Title: Jesus before Pilate Series/Portfolio: The Satirical Passion Artist: Copy after Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, Prague 1607-1677 London) Artist: After Hans Holbein the Younger (German, Augsburg 1497/98-1543 London) Date: after 1677 Medium: Etching, only state Dimensions: Sheet: 3 9/16 × 2 3/8 in. (9.1 × 6 cm) Classification. Following the accusation of blasphemy by the chief priest-a crime that demands the death sentence in ancient Jewish tradition- Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea, at his palace.
Bound and bloodied from his beatings, a seemingly frail Jesus faces Pilate, who wears the pristine toga of his rank. They meet alone in the Hall of Judgment, though several. The painting depicts the biblical scene where Jesus Christ is presented before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, who is reluctantly interrogating Christ before his crucifixion.
A hallmark of Bosch's work, the painting features an array of characters surrounding Christ, each with exaggerated and expressive features. Here Rembrandt van Rijn combined the Presentation of Christ to the people by Pontius Pilate and the Mocking of Christ by the people of Jerusalem into one large and deeply moving etching. Although surrounded by the Pharisees and a motley crowd of mocking onlookers, Christ appears disengaged as he looks to the heavens, his hands clasped in prayer.
The scene of Christ before Pilate is represented as the artist might have seen it staged in a medieval mystery play. To the left, Christ is brutally pushed forward toward Pilate, who raises his hand in wonder at this prisoner Who does not seek to defend Himself. Within this context, the miniature of Christ before Pilate serves as a visual focus for the prayers that follow.
Pilate, the Roman prefect in Jerusalem who presided at Jesus' trial and gave the order for his Crucifixion, sits on a throne. Jesus' sad but patient expression suggests his acceptance of his fate. Jesus Before Pilate, First Interview (Brooklyn Museum): Art in the Christian Tradition.
Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, 2011-2012, no. 17A.