Christ of Sorrows. Vir Dolorum, 19th century (?).

Bas-relief, ivory, dimensions: 14.3 x 10.3 cm, wood and bone binding, dimensions: 30.5 x 26.5 cm.
State of preservation: crack in upper left and upper right corner.

The presented bas-relief is a work inspired by a well-known print by Albrecht Dürer, which begins a series of "Copperplate Passions" - a series consisting of 15 small-sized copperplate engravings made between 1507 and 1512. "Christ of Sorrows at the Column" depicts Christ standing at the column wearing a crown of thorns, holding a rod and a whip in his folded hands, with the figures of Mary and St. John at the bottom left of Christ, in a waist-to-waist shot. The two standing figures to the right of Christ visible in the relief do not appear in the graphic version of this particular print; they are Saints Peter and John from the last graphic of the series under discussion: "Healing of the lame man by St. Peter." The author of the relief combined the motifs of the first print of the series and the last, creating a work that is poignant and rich in content. The "Copperplate Passion" series has been frequently copied both in graphics and in other media.

The image of the Sorrowful Christ is not part of the Passion narrative, it does not depict any specific event of the Passion. It depicts the collective suffering of Christ and is meant to inspire reflection on Christ's passion and sacrifice that lead to salvation. The image has its origins in Byzantine art of the 12th century, through Italy in the 15th century it entered Western art, where it was enriched with various iconographic motifs.