Rembrandt van Rijn
Dutch, 1606-1669
The Descent from the Cross: Second Plate
INV-2911
Rembrandt van Rijn
Dutch, 1606-16691633
The Descent from the Cross: Second Plate
Rembrandt van Rijn Dutch, 1606-1669 →etchingprint
Date
1633
Medium
Etching and burin on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image: 51.2 × 40.5 cm (20 3/16 × 16 in.); Sheet trimmed within platemark: 52 × 40.5 cm (20 1/2 × 16 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Clarence Buckingham Collection
Rays of heavenly light pierce the darkness that is said to have descended when Jesus died, harshly illuminating his followers as they lower his body from the cross. Rembrandt depicts Jesus’s corpse with unprecedented realism, emphasizing its weight and humanity. Also unconventional was Rembrandt’s choice to lend his features to the figure standing on the ladder. This imposing print was based on a painting Rembrandt executed for the prestigious patron Prince Frederick Henry of Orange—perhaps as a way to celebrate that milestone in his career.
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