This sketch, “Study of a Christ on the Mount of Olives,” is a work by Albrecht Dürer, dating from between 1515 and 1518. Dürer, a pivotal figure in the Northern Renaissance, was known for his detailed and expressive artwork. This particular piece serves as a study and belongs to the genre of sketches. It is housed in the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria.
The artwork depicts a figure bowing in a solemn and contemplative posture. The figure, which represents Christ, is kneeling on what appears to be a rock or stone surface, indicating the setting could be the Mount of Olives, a place associated with Jesus’s prayers before his betrayal and arrest. The lines are finely etched, displaying the artist’s mastery in conveying texture and form through drawing. The drapery of the garments is detailed, demonstrating Dürer’s skill in rendering intricate folds and shadows. Despite being a study, the piece communicates a great deal of emotion through the posture and gesture of the figure. The mark indicating Dürer’s monogram “AD” can be seen in the lower right corner of the sketch, which was typical of his works.
