Christ is showing carrying the cross as a guard tugs at his collar; Saint Veronica kneels beside him, clutching her veil, whilst the Magdalene stands behind her (on the left), next to the Virgin (on the right). Other guards can be seen behind Christ. The engraving is no. 10 of Dürer's engraved "Passion" series.
Ruskin first catalogued the print in 1871, in the first edition of the Educational Catalogue, where it was framed with another engraving form the same series, "Christ on the Cross", as no. 31 E, part of Case III, "Illustrations of Northern Gothic, with its resultant Art", alongside several other Dürers. Although Ruskin never precisely identified which prints from the "Passion" were framed here, they were identified by Cook and Wedderburn (XXI.86 n. 4). By 1874 (Educational catalogue, 2nd ed.), the frame had moved to Case V, "Elementary Illustrations of Landscape" - perhaps to keep it with the other Dürers which surrounded it, as neither print displays much landscape behind the figures. It was described there as 'perfect in execution'. In Ruskin's "Abbeville" catalogue, several prints from the "Passion" were described as characteristic of Flamboyant design, and as 'Grotesque developed', although 'never surpassed in thoughtful masterhood of line engraving, or in ... special phase of imagination' (no. 22 = XIX.273).
Presented by John Ruskin to the Ruskin Drawing School (University of Oxford), 1875; transferred from the Ruskin Drawing School to the Ashmolean Museum, c.1949.
Schoch, Rainer, Mende, Matthias, and Scherbaum, Anna, Albrecht Dürer: das druckgraphische Werk, 3 (Munich/London/New York: Prestel, 2001-2004), no. 54
Meder, Josef, Dürer-Katalog, ein handbuch über Albrecht Dürers stiche, radierungen, Holzschnitte, deren zustände, ausgaben und wasserzeichen (Wien: Gilhofer & Ranschburg, 1932), no. 12
Bartsch, Adam von, Le Peintre Graveur, 21 vols (Vienna: J. von Degen, 1803-1821), cat. vol. VII, p. 37, no. 12
Ruskin, John, Catalogue of the Educational Series (London: Smith, Elder, 1871), cat. Educational no. 31.E
Ruskin, John, Catalogue of the Educational Series (London: Spottiswoode, 1874), cat. Educational no. 124
Hollstein, F. W. H., German Engravings Etchings and Woodcuts, ca. 1400 - 1700 (Amsterdam: Menno Hertzberger, 1954-), cat. vol. VII, p. 12, no. 12
Bartsch, Adam von, The Illustrated Bartsch, founding editor Walter L. Strauss, general editor John T. Spike (New York: Abaris Books, 1978-), no. 1001.12
Ruskin, John, ‘References to the Series of Paintings and Sketches, From Mr. Ruskin's Collection, Shown in Illustration of the Relations of Flamboyant Architecture to Contemporary and Subsequent Art’, Edward T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn, eds, The Works of John Ruskin: Library Edition, 39 (London: George Allen, 1903-1912), 19, no. 22 = XIX.273
Ruskin, John, ‘The Ruskin Art Collection at Oxford: Catalogues, Notes and Instructions’, Edward T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn, eds, The Works of John Ruskin: Library Edition, 39 (London: George Allen, 1903-1912), 21, cat. Educational no. 124