On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01474
- Author
- Dyck, Anton van (Flemish),
- Title
- The Crown of Thorns
- Chronology
- 1618-1620
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 224 cm x 197 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
Various figures surround and mock
Christ. An armed soldier and an
executioner place the Crown of
Thorns on him, whicl another offers
him a stick as a scepter. Two other
figures watch the scene through the
window.
This is a work from Van Dyck's
youth, when he showed a great
influence from Venetian painting.
Thus, the figure of Jesus is
directly based on a model by
Titian. The composition, with
Christ as its axis, derives from
his apprenticeship with Rubens, as
does the chiaroscuro, which Rubens
used during the early decades of
the seventeenth century.
This work was made in various
stages. The dog and the men in the
window are latter additions, and
some pentimenti are also visible: a
foot between Christ and the dog,
and a hand on the far right, beside
the executioner's elbow.
The artist gave this work to
Rubens. When the latter died, it
was acquired by Felipe IV, who sent
it to the Monastery of El Escorial.
From there, it entered the Prado
Museum in 1839.
Location on the map
