The Flagellation of Christ, with the Landscape Background

The Flagellation of Christ, with the Landscape Background is a significant example of early Renaissance printmaking, created by the Workshop of Andrea Mantegna Italian, 1431-1506, between 1475 and 1480. Classified as an engraving on paper, this work demonstrates the sophisticated technical mastery emerging in northern Italy during the quattrocento. Although executed by assistants or pupils, the composition adheres closely to the dramatic and sculptural style established by Mantegna, who was a dominant artistic figure of the time. The meticulous detail required for the medium of engraving allowed for the wide dissemination of these complex biblical narratives, ensuring the master's aesthetic reach beyond the confines of painting commissions.

The scene depicts the harrowing moment of the Flagellation, central to the Passion of Christ. Contrary to traditional depictions set strictly indoors, this piece incorporates an expansive, naturalistic landscape background that opens up the visual space. This element is characteristic of the innovative approach to perspective and atmosphere employed by Mantegna’s circle. Christ is positioned centrally, bound to a column, while his tormentors occupy the foreground, their musculature rendered with the classical precision typical of the Italian Renaissance focus on the human form. Works produced by the workshop, such as this influential print, served a critical role in popularizing Mantegna’s style among other artists and patrons. This compelling example of 15th-century prints is preserved in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.