Flagellation of Christ

Stefano Mulinari, 1760

MEDIUMEtching and aquatint in brown ink
DIMENSIONSSheet (Trimmed): 14 7/16 × 15 1/4 in. (36.7 × 38.7 cm)
LOCATIONThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
COLLECTIONDrawings and Prints
CREDIT LINEHarris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1953

This powerful etching uses dramatic light and shadow to depict the flagellation of Christ, drawing you into a scene of intense suffering and emotional depth. It's a striking example of 18th-century religious printmaking.

Get the full experience in Art Whisper
Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store
ABOUT THIS WORK

In this dramatic etching, Christ stands bound to a column, his body illuminated against a dark, shadowy background as he endures the flagellation. Two figures, their faces obscured in shadow or turned away, raise whips, poised to strike. The scene is rendered with a stark contrast between light and dark, a technique known as chiaroscuro, which intensifies the emotional impact of the moment. The brown ink and aquatint medium lend a warm, almost sepia tone to the print, evoking a sense of age and solemnity. This work, created around 1760, captures the raw emotion and suffering central to the narrative, drawing the viewer into the sacred drama. The artist, Stefano Mulinari, was active in the latter half of the 18th century, and his work often explored religious themes.

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

1

The way Christ's body glows, almost unnaturally, against the dark setting.

2

The blurred, indistinct faces of the flagellators, adding to their menacing anonymity.

3

The texture created by the aquatint, giving a painterly depth to the shadows.

2 more details waiting — unlock in Art Whisper
Audio Deep Dive

This powerful etching uses dramatic light and shadow to depict the flagellation of Christ, drawing you into a scene of intense suffering and emotional depth. I…

Hear the full story in the app
THE ARTIST
Stefano Mulinari 1741–1790

Italian engraver who transformed devotional scenes into intimate etchings with aquatint and colored washes.

Read Stefano's full story in Art Whisper
See something wrong?
Open the App