Christ Crowned with Thorns

Sir Anthony van Dyck painted several versions of a composition of 'The Mocking of Christ', which were reproduced in print by a number of engravers. Christ is shown bound, the crown of thorns about to be pressed on his head, while one of his torturers pulls his hair to the left. A kneeling figure mockingly offers him a reed as a sceptre, referring to his title as King of the Jews. To the right, a tall figure stands with one hand behind his back, which derives from the famous classical sculpture of the Farnese Hercules. However, rather than the lion pelt which Hercules wore, after slaying the beast as one of the 12 Labours he had been given, here the figure wears a leopardskin. Schelte Bolswert (c1586-1659) was the brother and probably the pupil of Boetius Bolswert (c. 1580-1633) in Amsterdam (by 1609). His early prints were after artists such as David Vinckboons, Gillis van Coninxloo III and Abraham Bloemaert. By 1617 he was in Antwerp where he worked for the famous publishers Plantin-Moretus. He became a Master in the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp in 1625-6. His work was primarily religious in subject.

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