Hieronymus Wierix (1553-1619) Lot n° 30

Hieronymus Wierix - Christ Child as Salvator Mundi with Passion instruments / Description: In this remarkable print, we behold Christ as Salvator Mundi with blessing fingers and orb with cross in his hand. But this depiction differs from the traditional one in many ways. We recognize him as a child, in full-length and seated on a cushion, with a downward gaze, rather than as an adult man in a strict frontal bust portrait characterized by a penetrating gaze. In this formula, the devotion to the Christian child, who came to earth to redeem mankind, gains special emphasis. This is further highlighted by the many passion instruments that adorn the image: from the crown of thorns, over the hammer and nails of the cross, pincers to take him down, sponge, ladder, spear, clothes and dice to the crowing cock. The cross and the scourge column flank the scene, which is crowned at the top by the radiant light of the Holy Spirit as a dove. This image could serve to gradually browse through all the Arma Christi and reflect extensively on the suffering caused by each object, as the caption indicates: "Quid tormenta contemplaris?”. An exceptional detail to be found is the ear of Malchus still hanging on the sword, freshly chopped off by Peter at the time of Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane. / Dimensions: 11,20 x 7,00 cm / Condition: Overall good condition, trimmed just outside the plate rim, very pale brown spot on chest of Jesus / Literature: Hollstein / Dutch and Flemish etchings, engravings and woodcuts c.1450-1700 (430) — Mauquoy-Hendrickx 1979 / Les Estampes des Wierix ... catalogue raisonné (487) — Alvin 1866 / Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre des trois frères Jan, Jérome et Antoine Wierix (1113) / Medium: Engraving /Circa: 1619 (before)