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Probably by Sodoma, 'Head of Christ', probably about 1525-50

About the work

Overview

After being condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, Christ was taken away by soldiers, crowned with thorns and called ‘King of the Jews’ (Matthew 27: 26–31). Although all the Gospels describe how Christ was led away to be crucified, only John tells us that he carried his own cross (John 19: 16–17).

Blood drips down Christ’s forehead, which is pierced by the thorns with which he has been crowned, as he carries his cross to Calvary to be crucified. We are placed in the position of an onlooker in the crowd as he passes by. The drama, pathos and intimacy of the moment is heightened by the very close focus on Christ’s face and the extremes of light and dark.

The painting does not seem to have been cut and was probably always intended to be this size. It is therefore probably not a fragment of a larger picture but an independent devotional work.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Head of Christ
Artist
Probably by Sodoma
Artist dates
1477 - 1549
Date made
probably about 1525-50
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
38.7 × 31.7 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1891
Inventory number
NG1337
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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