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Original fileGekruisigde Christus met Maria, Maria Magdalena en Johannes
About This Work
This ornate oval engraving depicts the Crucifixion with the Sun and Moon positioned above the cross. Below the mourning figures, two armored soldiers sit among discarded equipment, while the base of the frame features lions, skulls, and serpents entwined around wooden posts. The composition is highly detailed, using dense cross-hatching to create a somber and symbolic atmosphere.
The print incorporates the Brazen Serpent—a biblical archetype of healing that in Renaissance esoteric thought served as an alchemical symbol for the fixing of volatile substances. Produced by the Sadeler family, who were central to the artistic output of the Rudolfine court in Prague, the work reflects the period's interest in combining traditional Christian iconography with Hermetic and natural-philosophical subtexts.
Inscriptions
I·N·R·I IOAN SADLER EXCVD: MARC GERAER FIGVR:
Translation
I·N·R·I IOAN SADLER PUBLISHED: MARC GERAER DESIGNED:
Connected Texts
Paracelsus
Paracelsus and later alchemical writers frequently cited the Brazen Serpent as a symbol of both Christological healing and the transmutation of the spirit.
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
height 161 mm x width 114 mm
religious
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.