Albrecht Durer’s painting, Christ among the Doctors, completed in 1506, can be found in the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid. The artwork is a successful combination of Italian and Northern European painting styles in its composition. It portrays Jesus as a twelve-year-old boy, confident and glowing with life, while a grotesque man beside him provides a sharp contrast to Jesus’ warmth and freshness.
The creation of the painting took Durer only five days to finish while he was working on the Feast of the Rosary altarpiece. Executed in oil, the painting is considered to date back to Durer’s stay in Venice. The work conveys the essence of the religious teachings of Christ by depicting him as a child prodigy among the elders, confidently expressing his wisdom before them.
Furthermore, the painting’s colour palette and brushstrokes reflect the Renaissance art style that emerged during the 14th century. The style adopted the classical form of depicting human and natural forms and had a revolutionary effect on the development of the visual arts. Overall, Christ among the Doctors, through its composition and techniques, demonstrates Durer’s proficiency in merging different painting styles and his artistic prowess in portraying the Biblical story.
