Getty Museum
The Piercing of Christ's Side
Creator
Simon BeningFlemish Illuminator · 1483–1561
All works by this person →One of the most celebrated painters of Flanders in the 1500s, Simon Bening was hailed by Portuguese art critic Francisco da Hollanda as the greatest master of illumination in all of Europe. In addition to producing books for powerful aristocrats such as Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, Bening worked for a group of international royal patrons including Emperor Charles V and Don Fernando, the Infan
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1525–1530
- Medium
- Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf
- Culture
- Flemish
- Department
- Manuscripts
- Institution
- Getty Museum
While a crowd gathers in the lower half of the miniature, the bodies of Christ and the two thieves remain silhouetted against a light blue sky in the upper half of the illumination. By isolating the body of Christ against this blue background, Simon Bening emphasized the long lance piercing his side; a text devoted to the lancing directly follows this illumination. At the bottom left, the Virgin swoons with grief, supported by Saint John and two women. John's hand touches the area of Mary's side that corresponds to the lance wound in Christ's side, drawing attention to the pain she shares with her son.
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