Woodcut series: The Large Passion (1497-1500)
by Albrecht DÜRER

The Large Passion is named after the format of the series (39 x 28 cm). The whole series of twelve cuts did not appear till 1511 when Dürer published the cycle, together with a title page and a poem by the Benedictine theologian and friend of Willibald Pirckheimer, Benedictus Chelidonius (died 1521). The first seven woodcuts were executed between 1497 and 1500, then the series was completed by five cuts in 1510. The complete edition in book form appeared in 1511.

The pictures are distinguished by means of their strong emotions, naturalism and human treatment of the subject, thus distancing themselves from Late Gothic depictions of the Passion. Dürer considered the Passion to be the subject most worthy of representation in pictorial art, and he portrayed it five different times - a sixth version remained unfinished owing to his death. The subject, untrammelled by the strange pictorial apparatus of the Apocalypse, allows of a clearer expression of form and intention, and it is therefore easier to determine the dates.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
The Large Passion: 1. Title page
1510
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*1010
Grayscale
112 Kb



The Large Passion: 2. Christ on the Mount of Olives
c. 1497
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*895
Grayscale
183 Kb



The Large Passion: 3. Flagellation of Christ
c. 1497
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*906
Grayscale
173 Kb



The Large Passion: 4. Ecce Homo
c. 1499
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*896
Grayscale
168 Kb



The Large Passion: 5. Christ Bearing the Cross
1498
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*886
Grayscale
164 Kb



The Large Passion: 6. The Crucifixion
1498
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*899
Grayscale
180 Kb



The Large Passion: 7. The Lamentation for Christ
c. 1497
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*890
Grayscale
172 Kb



The Large Passion: 8. The Entombment
c. 1497
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*898
Grayscale
181 Kb



The Large Passion: 9. Last Supper
1510
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*892
Grayscale
161 Kb



The Large Passion: 10. Christ Taken Captive
1510
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*918
Grayscale
175 Kb



The Large Passion: 11. Christ in Limbo
1510
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*915
Grayscale
175 Kb



The Large Passion: 12. The Resurrection of Christ
1510
Woodcut, 39 x 28 cm
Graphische Sammlung Albertina, Vienna

650*922
Grayscale
169 Kb




Summary of woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer
1489-1500 | 1501-10 | 1511-20| 1521-28
Apocalypse (1497-98)
The Large Passion (1497-1500)
Life of the Virgin (1511)
The Small Passion (1511)
The Triumphal Arch (1515)
graphic works | paintings