The Circumcision of Christ
Jacob Cornelisz Van Oostsanen, The Circumcision of Christ, 1517, oil and fabric mounted on wood panel, Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation, public domain, 61.59
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
The Circumcision of Christ
- Artist
Jacob Cornelisz Van Oostsanen (Netherlandish, 1472/1477-1533 or earlier)
- Date
1517
- Period
High Renaissance (late 15th-1520s)
- Medium
oil and fabric mounted on wood panel
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
43 in x 23 3/4 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
signature/maker's mark: 16th c., monogram and date bottom center
- Collection Area
European Art
- Category
Paintings
- Object Type
painting
- Culture
Dutch
- Credit Line
Gift of The Samuel H. Kress Foundation
- Accession Number
61.59
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
Van Oostsanen was the first painter to gain prominence in Amsterdam. His careful attention to detail exemplifies Northern Renaissance painting. Casting the circumcision scene as an aristocratic ceremony with richly costumed figures and gilded furnishings connects this work with the international court style of Mannerism.
This painting depicts the ancient Jewish practice of circumcising infant males to initiate them into the religious community. In Christian doctrine, circumcision symbolized the first moment of Christ's physical suffering, anticipating his sacrifice on the cross. The connection is illustrated through the inclusion of a scene of Christ’s Agony in the Garden in the background landscape.
