Design for a Silver Vessel with Scenes from the Passion of Christ

Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen

ca. 1600 · Black chalk, pen and brown ink and brown wash · Drawings and Prints

This design for an oval dish beautifully illustrates that Paulus van Vianen was not only a goldsmith, but also an excellent designer and draftsman. The dish has a religious theme with four compartments containing scenes from the Passion of Christ. From left to right and top to bottom are depicted: The Capture of Christ; Ecce Homo; The Crucifixion; The Resurrection. Van Vianen has further decorated the dish with angels, cherubs and trophies containing the so-called Arma Christi. Where parts have been left empty on the left side, we can assume Van Vianen intended a repetition of those motifs seen on the right. Unknown is what was to be depicted in the center of the dish.

Artist

Paulus Willemsz. van Vianen

Date

ca. 1600

Medium

Black chalk, pen and brown ink and brown wash

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Edward Pearce Casey Fund, 2000