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Wolf Huber, 'Christ taking leave of his Mother', about 1520

About the work

Overview

The subject of Christ bidding farewell to his mother, the Virgin Mary, as he heads to Jerusalem to face his arrest, trial and death was very popular in southern Germany. This is a fragment of a larger painting, which has been cut at the right edge – only Christ’s hands and part of his long crimson robe remain. The main focus of the image is the swooning Virgin Mary, who has collapsed into the arms of her companions.

Huber was skilled at expressing emotion through gesture and this is probably his most expressive and dramatic image. The composition, with the holy women to the left and Christ standing to the right, is similar to a version of the scene by Albrecht Altdorfer, which is also in the National Gallery’s collection. Huber may have been inspired by Altdorfer’s painting, which was made slightly earlier.

Key facts

Details

Full title
Christ taking leave of his Mother
Artist
Wolf Huber
Artist dates
1480/5 - 1553
Date made
about 1520
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
95.5 × 68.2 cm
Acquisition credit
Bought, 1995
Inventory number
NG6550
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
20th-century Replica Frame

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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