The Flagellation; (reverse) The Madonna of Mercy

Girolamo Romanino

ca. 1540 · Distemper and oil(?) on canvas · European Paintings

Romanino painted this expressive depiction of the flagellation of Christ as a processional banner for a confraternity, or lay religious group, in Brescia, a city not far from Milan. Contemporary German prints, which circulated widely in northern Italy, inspired its dramatically compressed composition and the vehemence of the brutish executioners. Caravaggio, the groundbreaking artist of the next generation, spent his formative years in the region and almost certainly knew and admired this painting. On its reverse, now unfortunately somewhat damaged, Romanino painted the Madonna of Mercy surrounded by kneeling members of the confraternity. For an image of the reverse, visit its collection record at The Met website.

Artist

Girolamo Romanino

Date

ca. 1540

Medium

Distemper and oil(?) on canvas

Department

European Paintings

Credit line

Purchase, Anonymous Bequest, by exchange, 1989