The Flagellation

Lombardy (?)

late 15th century · Point of the brush and brown and light gray ink, brown and grayish brown wash, over traces of black chalk, heightened with white (partly oxidized) · Robert Lehman Collection

Evoking the solemnity of his pose and expression, Christ’s head and torso are delicately modeled in a sfumato technique of softly blended tones – in marked contrast to the more linear and less finished treatment of his lower body and that of his assailants. The drawing may have been produced by a Lombard draftsman, as the sfumato technique evokes the influence of Leonardo da Vinci and his followers, or an artist from elsewhere in Northern Italy. This sheet was among Robert Lehman’s first drawing purchases, acquired at an auction sale in 1923.

Artist

Lombardy (?)

Date

late 15th century

Medium

Point of the brush and brown and light gray ink, brown and grayish brown wash, over traces of black chalk, heightened with white (partly oxidized)

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975