Christ Taken before Caiaphas

Description

The first drawing purchased by the museum as a Rembrandt is now considered by experts to have been made by a follower of the Dutch artist. The scene depicts Christ being led to his first interrogation after his capture in Gethsemane (John 18:12–14), an unusual subject that may be paraphrasing the traditional portrayal of Christ carrying the cross. Here, the exhausted figure of Christ, contrasted with the brutal features and cruel gestures of the soldiers, produces an image that resonates with emotion. However, stylistic details, particularly the use of wash that creates a vague space and the lack of clarity and directness in Christ's face, suggest that this drawing was executed by a student or follower working in Rembrandt's style.

Provenance

Rev. Carwardine; Col. O. Probert; L. Ruzicka, Zurich; Rev. Thomas Carwardine, Earl's Colne Priory, Essex (not in Lugt; according to Probert sale catalogue). Colonel Oliver Probert (not in Lugt); [sold: Christie's, London, 16 May 1952, p. 9, lot 43, 800 guineas, repr.]. Leopold Ruzicka, Zurich (not in Lugt; according to departmental cataloguing sheet and card). [Mrs. Marianne Feilchenfeldt, Zurich]

Christ Taken before Caiaphas

Rembrandt van Rijn

c. 1641–42

Accession Number

1960.187

Medium

pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash, with white gouache

Dimensions

Sheet: 18.2 x 23.4 cm (7 3/16 x 9 3/16 in.); Secondary Support: 18.2 x 23.4 cm (7 3/16 x 9 3/16 in.)

Classification

Drawing

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund