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Gekruisigde Christus met Maria, Maria Magdalena en Johannes

Wikimedia Commons · CC0 1.0 · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen

Original file
PrintCC0 1.0

Gekruisigde Christus met Maria, Maria Magdalena en Johannes

Aegidius Sadeler

1560
paper
height 161 mm x width 114 mm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

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.

Jesus ChristVirgin MaryMary MagdaleneSaint John the EvangelistRoman soldiersSun and MoonBrazen SerpentAdam's skullcrossed boneslions73D64173D64273D64325F23(LION)

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

Holding Institution

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Medium

paper

Dimensions

height 161 mm x width 114 mm

GenreAI

religious

Digital Source

Source

Rijksmuseum · CC0 1.0

Original Resolution

3808 × 5368 px

Harvested

March 25, 2026

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.

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