“The Passion of the Lord in gray tones” are considered one of the main creations of Hans Holbein the Elder. The cycle was named after the gray monochrome color scheme, made in the grisaille technique, imitating a sculpture. These are 12 paintings about the last episodes of Christ’s earthly life.
Painting “Scourging of Christ”. Flagellation as punishment was applied in Ancient Rome just before the execution, but Pontius Pilate, ordered to expose him to Jesus before the sentencing, in order to pity and satisfy the crowd demanding his death. Flagellation pertained to painful punishments and in the Roman Empire he was subjected to serious crimes, but for the most part slaves and persons without the rights of a Roman citizen. According to the Jewish laws, the number of blows was limited, the Romans did not know such a restriction.
The evangelists say nothing about the fact that Jesus was tied to the pillar during the scourging, but the ancient common tradition and the ancient Roman custom of doing this punishment say that Jesus was tied. Scene of scourging in the column in Western art has been encountered since at least the 10th century.
Hans Holbein the Elder with such a piercing force showed a scourging. The glittering faces of the executioners, who have lost their human form and are so earnestly executing Pontius Pilate’s order! And Christ’s face is calm and mournful. Calmly – for he fulfills the will of God the Father and must drink the cup of suffering. The face of Christ is mournful – for he knew the bitterness of betrayal, before which even the brutish executioners fade. It is impossible to calmly look at this picture…
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