The Flagellation of Christ, sometimes known as Christ at the Column or the Scourging at the Pillar, is a scene from the Passion of Jesus frequently shown in Christian art, in cycles of the Passion or the larger subject of the Life of Christ. It is the fourth station of the modern alternate Stations of the Cross, and a Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.[1][2] The column to which Christ is normally tied, and the rope, scourge, whip or birch are elements in the Arma Christi.[3] The Basilica di Santa Prassede in Rome claims to possess the original column.[4]
From the 15th century the subject is also painted in individual works, rather than as one of a series of Passion scenes. The most-discussed single work is the enigmatic treatment on a small panel in Urbino by Piero della Francesca (1455–60), whose precise meaning has eluded generations of art historians. At the same time Christ at the Column or Christ at the Stake developed as an image of Christ alone tied to a column or stake. This was most popular in Baroque sculpture, and also related to the subject, not found in the canonical Gospels, of Christ in the Dungeon. It is often difficult to distinguish between these two, and between Christ at the Column and a Flagellation.[5]
The Church of the Flagellation, at the supposed site in Jerusalem, was rebuilt in 1839 and again in 1929.
Flagellation at the hands of the Romans is mentioned in three of the four canonical Gospels: John 19:1, Mark 15:15, and Matthew 27:26, and was the usual prelude to crucifixion under Roman law.[6] None of the three accounts is more detailed than John's "Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged" (NIV). Luke's comparable account, Luke 22:63-65 is of the High Priest's guards beating and mocking Jesus. In the Passion of Christ the episode precedes the Mocking of Christ and the Crowning with Thorns, which according to the Gospels happened at the same time or immediately after. Unlike the flogging, these were not part of the normal Roman judicial process.[7]
In art
It first appears in art in the West in the 9th century. It is almost never found in Byzantine art, and remains very rare in Eastern Orthodox art at any date. Initially found in illuminated manuscripts and small ivories, there are surviving monumental wall-paintings from around 1000 in Italy. From the start there are most often three figures, Christ and two servants of Pontius Pilate who whip him. In early depictions Christ may be naked, or wearing a long robe, facing out or seen from behind; from the 12th century it is standard that Christ wears a loincloth (perizoma) and faces out towards the viewer.[8] Christ's face is normally visible, giving artists the "technical problem of showing him receiving the strokes on his back - the usual place - while at the same time leaving his face visible.[9] Often he appears to be receiving the strokes on the front of his body.
Pontius Pilate is sometimes shown watching the scene, and his wife's servant may approach him with her message, and in the later Middle Ages, probably under the influence of Passion plays, the number of men beating Christ may be three or four, increasingly caricatured in the North as grotesque figures in the dress of contemporary mercenaries.[10] Sometimes another figure, who may be Herod, is present. The Flagellation was at the hands of those working for Pontius Pilate, but the floggers may sometimes wear Jewish hats.[11] Following the Maestà of Duccio, the scene may take place in public, before an audience of the Jewish people.[12]
The Franciscans, who promoted self-flagellation as a means of identification with the suffering of Christ, were probably responsible for a number of large Italian processional crosses in which the Flagellation occupies the back of the cross, with a Crucifixion on the front. These were presumably sometimes followed in processions by flagellants, who could see Christ suffering in front of them.[13]
^D.K. Holm (2004-02-04). "The Passion of the Christ". Nocturnal Admissions. Movie Poop Shoot. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
Schiller, G. (1972). Iconography of Christian Art, Vol. II. London: Lund Humphries. pp. 66–69, figures 225–234 etc. ISBN0-85331-324-5. English translation from German
April 29, 2023
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For other uses see Flagellation of Christ disambiguation and Christ at the Column disambiguation The Flagellation of Christ sometimes known as Christ at the Column or the Scourging at the Pillar is a scene from the Passion of Jesus frequently shown in Christian art in cycles of the Passion or the larger subject of the Life of Christ It is the fourth station of the modern alternate Stations of the Cross and a Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary 1 2 The column to which Christ is normally tied and the rope scourge whip or birch are elements in the Arma Christi 3 The Basilica di Santa Prassede in Rome claims to possess the original column 4 Flagellation of Christ by Rubens Stained glass from Dalhem Church Sweden ca 1240 From the 15th century the subject is also painted in individual works rather than as one of a series of Passion scenes The most discussed single work is the enigmatic treatment on a small panel in Urbino by Piero della Francesca 1455 60 whose precise meaning has eluded generations of art historians At the same time Christ at the Column or Christ at the Stake developed as an image of Christ alone tied to a column or stake This was most popular in Baroque sculpture and also related to the subject not found in the canonical Gospels of Christ in the Dungeon It is often difficult to distinguish between these two and between Christ at the Column and a Flagellation 5 The Church of the Flagellation at the supposed site in Jerusalem was rebuilt in 1839 and again in 1929 Contents 1 Gospels 2 In art 3 In film 4 Notable examples 5 Gallery of art 6 See also 7 ReferencesGospels EditFlagellation at the hands of the Romans is mentioned in three of the four canonical Gospels John 19 1 Mark 15 15 and Matthew 27 26 and was the usual prelude to crucifixion under Roman law 6 None of the three accounts is more detailed than John s Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged NIV Luke s comparable account Luke 22 63 65 is of the High Priest s guards beating and mocking Jesus In the Passion of Christ the episode precedes the Mocking of Christ and the Crowning with Thorns which according to the Gospels happened at the same time or immediately after Unlike the flogging these were not part of the normal Roman judicial process 7 In art EditIt first appears in art in the West in the 9th century It is almost never found in Byzantine art and remains very rare in Eastern Orthodox art at any date Initially found in illuminated manuscripts and small ivories there are surviving monumental wall paintings from around 1000 in Italy From the start there are most often three figures Christ and two servants of Pontius Pilate who whip him In early depictions Christ may be naked or wearing a long robe facing out or seen from behind from the 12th century it is standard that Christ wears a loincloth perizoma and faces out towards the viewer 8 Christ s face is normally visible giving artists the technical problem of showing him receiving the strokes on his back the usual place while at the same time leaving his face visible 9 Often he appears to be receiving the strokes on the front of his body Pontius Pilate is sometimes shown watching the scene and his wife s servant may approach him with her message and in the later Middle Ages probably under the influence of Passion plays the number of men beating Christ may be three or four increasingly caricatured in the North as grotesque figures in the dress of contemporary mercenaries 10 Sometimes another figure who may be Herod is present The Flagellation was at the hands of those working for Pontius Pilate but the floggers may sometimes wear Jewish hats 11 Following the Maesta of Duccio the scene may take place in public before an audience of the Jewish people 12 The Franciscans who promoted self flagellation as a means of identification with the suffering of Christ were probably responsible for a number of large Italian processional crosses in which the Flagellation occupies the back of the cross with a Crucifixion on the front These were presumably sometimes followed in processions by flagellants who could see Christ suffering in front of them 13 In film EditIn modern times filmmakers have depicted Christ being flogged It is a significant scene in Mel Gibson s 2004 The Passion of the Christ In Kubrick s A Clockwork Orange Alex imagines himself as a Roman soldier flogging Jesus 14 Notable examples EditSingle works Flagellation of Christ Piero della Francesca 1455 60 Christ at the Column Antonello da Messina ca 1475 The Flagellation of Christ Caravaggio 1607 Christ at the Column Caravaggio 1607In cycles Maesta Duccio Scrovegni Chapel by GiottoGallery of art Edit Maesta by Duccio Flagellation of Christ by Piero della Francesca Greek Orthodox fresco by Theophanes the Cretan Flagellation of Christ by Bacchiacca Guercino 1657 Nicolo Grassi 1720 Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo Christ at the Column Italian sculpture 1817 Christ at the Column by Gregorio Fernandez The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ by William Adolphe BouguereauSee also EditLife of Jesus in the New TestamentReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flagellation of Jesus Christ The encyclopedia of visual art Volume 4 by Lawrence Gowing 1983 Encyclopedia Britannica page 626 Old Master Paintings and Drawings by Roy Bolton 2009 ISBN 1 907200 01 0 page 70 Iconography of Christian Art The Passion of Christ by Gertrud Schiller 1972 ASIN B000KGWGH4 pages 66 68 Which is still in situ Schiller 69 Schiller 66 Academic in Newsweek Schiller 66 Schiller 66 67 Hall James Hall s Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art 123 1996 2nd edn John Murray ISBN 0719541476 Schiller 68 See for example Schiller fig 231 a 13th century wall painting from Cologne Schiller 68 Schiller 67 D K Holm 2004 02 04 The Passion of the Christ Nocturnal Admissions Movie Poop Shoot Archived from the original on September 8 2012 Retrieved November 6 2009 Schiller G 1972 Iconography of Christian Art Vol II London Lund Humphries pp 66 69 figures 225 234 etc ISBN 0 85331 324 5 English translation from German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flagellation of Christ amp oldid 1146266482, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
