Oil on canvas. This is a period copy of the homonymous engraving made by Annibale Carracci (1560 -1609), which was immediately successful and gave rise to a series of printed replicas and painted copies. It presents the moment of the Passion in which Christ is crowned with the crown of thorns, an object of torture, a derogatory symbol of his proclamation as King of Kings. Two figures perform the act, the Roman soldier and the Jew, who represent the two peoples who took part in Christ's death sentence. The figures, vigorous and sanguine those of the two tormentors, paler and more inert the victim, create an intertwined composition of bodies, with that of Jesus in the center connecting the other two, uniting them in the shared responsibility of what they are doing; placed sideways, Jesus has his head forcibly reclined to the left by the soldier who imposes the crown of thorns, while the Jew on the right places the bamboo cane in his hand, replacing the scepter. The scene is dominated by dark and somber colors, among which only the bright red of Christ's robe stands out, a symbol of his suffering humanity. The painting has been restored and relined. It is presented in a beautiful contemporary frame, with missing parts.
Frame dimensions (cm):
Height: 130
Width: 97
Depth: 6
Artwork dimensions (cm):
Height: 112
Width: 80
ARARPI0159197
