The Arrest of Christ

c. 1513

Albrecht Altdorfer

Associated Names
Albrecht Altdorfer

Artist, German, 1480 or before - 1538

This is a drawing of a battle scene with soldiers and weapons, all centered around a radiant light source. There are figures engaged in a confrontation with swords, pikes, and helmets visible. The figures are closely positioned, suggesting conflict. In the center, there is a bright light or explosion radiating outwards, emphasizing the intensity of the moment. The light appears to be the focal point of the scene. The drawing features strong contrasts between light and dark, typical of line engravings, creating depth.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    woodcut on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Rosenwald Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet (trimmed to block): 7.2 × 4.8 cm (2 13/16 × 1 7/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1943.3.345

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    New Hollstein, no. w. 20

  • Series Title

    The Fall and Redemption of Man

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

purchased by Lessing J. Rosenwald [1891-1979], Jenkintown, PA, 1929; gift to NGA, 1943.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1963

  • Winzinger, Franz. Albrecht Altdorfer, Graphik: Holzschnitte, Kupferstiche, Radierungen. Munich: R.Piper and Co., 1963, no. 45.

1996

  • The New Hollstein German Engravings, Etchings and Woodcuts, 1400-1700. (Albrecht Aldorfer, Ursula Mielke, author). Rotterdam: Sound & Vision Interactive, 1996-, no. w. 20.

Wikidata ID

Q64952474

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