The Elements of Drawing, John Ruskin’s teaching collection at Oxford

The Elements of Drawing, John Ruskin’s teaching collection at Oxford

Browse: 1470 objects

Reference URL

Actions

Send e-mail

Contact us about this object

Send e-mail

Send to a friend

Christ carrying the Cross Albrecht Dürer

  • Curator’s description:

    Description

    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).

  • Details

    Artist/maker
    Albrecht Dürer (1471 - 1528) (engraver)
    Object type
    print
    Material and technique
    engraving on laid paper
    Dimensions
    117 x 74 mm (sheet)
    Inscription
    In the print, engraved, top right corner, on a plaque: 1512 | AD [the 'AD' in Dürer's characteristic monogram]

    Recto, lower left, graphite (recent): B- 12 [followed by a tick]
    Provenance

    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.

    No. of items
    1
    Accession no.
    WA.RS.ED.124.a
  • Subject terms allocated by curators:

    Subjects

  • References in which this object is cited include:

    References

    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

Location

    • Western Art Print Room

Position in Ruskin’s Collection

Ruskin's Catalogues

© 2013 University of Oxford - Ashmolean Museum