  
  About the Artwork
  
  
  G&Atilde;&frac14;nther was the greatest sculptor in eighteenth-century Bavaria. This figure is impressive for its spiritual expression, lifelike movement, and smoothly painted pearlescent surface. The faceted planes of the drapery reflect a flickering pattern of light across the surface, further animating the figure. G&Atilde;&frac14;nther's sensitive modeling is especially evident in Christ's face. Painted on the underside of the base in sepia are G&Atilde;&frac14;nther&acirc;&#128;&#153;s initials and date: "1754:F:l:G:," indicating that it was made the year G&Atilde;&frac14;nther was appointed court sculptor to the Bavarian Electorate.
This piece is a variant of a German sculpture of the scourged Christ, believed to shed real tears. The miraculous image became the object of a flourishing pilgrimage to the Wieskirche in Bavaria and was copied in engravings and sculpture. G&Atilde;&frac14;nther&acirc;&#128;&#153;s version reinterprets the model with a feeling of exaltation and passion.
  
  
  Title
  Christ at the Column
  
  
  Artwork Date
  1754
  
  Artist
  Franz Ignaz G&Atilde;&frac14;nther
  
  
  
  Life Dates
  1725-1775
  
  
  
  
  Nationality
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events.
  Some definitions include:
  Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation.
  
  
  
  German
  
  
  
  Culture
  
  
  
  Please note:
  Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group.
  
  
  
  
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  Medium
  Lindenwood with polychrome decoration
  
  
  Dimensions
  Overall: 29 1/4 &Atilde;&#151; 17 1/4 &Atilde;&#151; 7 1/2 inches (74.3 &Atilde;&#151; 43.8 &Atilde;&#151; 19.1 cm)
  Mount: 1 1/4 &Atilde;&#151; 12 &Atilde;&#151; 8 inches (3.2 &Atilde;&#151; 30.5 &Atilde;&#151; 20.3 cm)
  
  
  Classification
  Sculpture
  
  
  Department
  European Sculpture and Dec Arts
  
  
  Credit
  Founders Society Purchase, Acquisitions Fund
  
  
  
  Accession Number
  
  
  
  This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection.
  Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum&acirc;&#128;&#153;s holdings.
  For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems&acirc;&#128;&#148;no longer assigned&acirc;&#128;&#148;that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups.
  
  
  
  1983.13
  
  
  Copyright
  Public Domain
  
  
  
