DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67657#0198
B. I.] Life of the Virgin and of Christ. Ill
9. CHRIST CARRYING THE CROSS.
B. xiii. [260, 14] 266, 14 (second state).—P. v. 52, 9.—K. ii. 49. (ii).
Neai’ the centre Christ, bearing his cross over the 1. shoulder, is seen
in profile walking to the r. A man with a drawn sword leads him by a
rope. Besore him march a company os soldiers armed with pikes and
spears, and he is followed by a number of horsemen armed with spears,
to one os which a banner is attached, with the letters s-p-q-r- reversed.
The foremost horseman turns his head towards the 1. and with a mace
in his r. hand threatens the Virgin and S. John, who stand in the fore-
ground 1. Still sarther 1. one os the holy women helps S. John to
support the fainting Virgin.
[221 x 165] Fair impression, apparently from an early reworked state (Bartsch’s
second state, with parallel shading on the front of the Cross and with the letters
spqr on the banner); discoloured in parts; plate line visible.
Collection: Count de Fries.
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 636.
Reproduction : Illustr. B. I. 10.
10. THE CRUCIFIXION.
B. xiii. 261, 15, and 266, 15.—P. v. 52, 10.—K. ii. 50. (i).
In the centre Christ hangs on the cross. The two thieves are
crucified to r. and 1. os him. On a board surmounting the cross os Christ
are the letters i-n-r-i- L. and r. appear weeping saces of the sun and
moon; six mourning angels hover or kneel near the summits os the crosses.
Below, a crowd os soldiers and others, on horseback or on foot, are
gathered about the three crosses. A man mounted on a ladder is about
to break the legs of one of the crucified thieves with a mace. To the
spears of two of the soldiers banners are attached, one of which bears the
device of a scorpion, the other the letters (s)pqr. In the foreground, before
the cross os Christ, the Virgin has fallen in a swoon. Around her five
holy women kneel wailing; near them, sarther 1., kneels a man with a
beard, probably S. Joseph of Arimathea.
(i) B. xiii. 261, 15.
[223 X 165] Fine early impression, the paper slightly torn upper 1. and r. corners,
and in the latter the end of the Cross and part of angel made up in ink; the
impression ruled in squares in red chalk.
Purchased 1891. 1. 15. 8.
No other impression of the series in the British Museum is in so fresh a
state, fully showing as it does much delicate shading which very soon disappeared
and was replaced by bolder and more open lines (note especially the horse in
foreground 1.).
(ii) B. xiii. 266, 15.
[224 x 165] Fair impression from the second state of the plate, worn and in part
reworked; paper discoloured ; showing plate line. Watermark 4d.
Collection : Count de Fries.
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 637.
Reproduction: Illustr. B. I. 11.
In comparison with the preceding, this impression furnishes a good example
of the result of early wear and retouching on plates of this class. Many of the
delicate lines of shading lightly scratched on the plate have disappeared (e.g.
the horse to 1., and cloak of holy woman in foreground) while the principal
9. CHRIST CARRYING THE CROSS.
B. xiii. [260, 14] 266, 14 (second state).—P. v. 52, 9.—K. ii. 49. (ii).
Neai’ the centre Christ, bearing his cross over the 1. shoulder, is seen
in profile walking to the r. A man with a drawn sword leads him by a
rope. Besore him march a company os soldiers armed with pikes and
spears, and he is followed by a number of horsemen armed with spears,
to one os which a banner is attached, with the letters s-p-q-r- reversed.
The foremost horseman turns his head towards the 1. and with a mace
in his r. hand threatens the Virgin and S. John, who stand in the fore-
ground 1. Still sarther 1. one os the holy women helps S. John to
support the fainting Virgin.
[221 x 165] Fair impression, apparently from an early reworked state (Bartsch’s
second state, with parallel shading on the front of the Cross and with the letters
spqr on the banner); discoloured in parts; plate line visible.
Collection: Count de Fries.
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 636.
Reproduction : Illustr. B. I. 10.
10. THE CRUCIFIXION.
B. xiii. 261, 15, and 266, 15.—P. v. 52, 10.—K. ii. 50. (i).
In the centre Christ hangs on the cross. The two thieves are
crucified to r. and 1. os him. On a board surmounting the cross os Christ
are the letters i-n-r-i- L. and r. appear weeping saces of the sun and
moon; six mourning angels hover or kneel near the summits os the crosses.
Below, a crowd os soldiers and others, on horseback or on foot, are
gathered about the three crosses. A man mounted on a ladder is about
to break the legs of one of the crucified thieves with a mace. To the
spears of two of the soldiers banners are attached, one of which bears the
device of a scorpion, the other the letters (s)pqr. In the foreground, before
the cross os Christ, the Virgin has fallen in a swoon. Around her five
holy women kneel wailing; near them, sarther 1., kneels a man with a
beard, probably S. Joseph of Arimathea.
(i) B. xiii. 261, 15.
[223 X 165] Fine early impression, the paper slightly torn upper 1. and r. corners,
and in the latter the end of the Cross and part of angel made up in ink; the
impression ruled in squares in red chalk.
Purchased 1891. 1. 15. 8.
No other impression of the series in the British Museum is in so fresh a
state, fully showing as it does much delicate shading which very soon disappeared
and was replaced by bolder and more open lines (note especially the horse in
foreground 1.).
(ii) B. xiii. 266, 15.
[224 x 165] Fair impression from the second state of the plate, worn and in part
reworked; paper discoloured ; showing plate line. Watermark 4d.
Collection : Count de Fries.
Purchased 1845. 8. 25. 637.
Reproduction: Illustr. B. I. 11.
In comparison with the preceding, this impression furnishes a good example
of the result of early wear and retouching on plates of this class. Many of the
delicate lines of shading lightly scratched on the plate have disappeared (e.g.
the horse to 1., and cloak of holy woman in foreground) while the principal