Christ before Herod

Albrecht Dürer · 1509
The Met, New York

Only Luke tells that Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, ruler of Galilee, who was in Jerusalem at the time. Dürer cut this small scene for the Small Passion; the tablet on the floor is dated 1509.

Herod sits under a canopy wearing a crown and holding a sceptre, and leans forward as he questions. Jesus stands silent in a long robe, while accusers talk behind him and soldiers wait at the left.

From the text

Herod questioning Jesus at length, without an answer (Luke 23:9)

The chief priests and scribes accusing him (Luke 23:10)

The artist’s own

Herod with a crown over a turban, like an eastern king

A small dog curled at his feet

Details

Herod

Herod, crowned, holds his sceptre and leans forward.

Silent

Jesus stands in a long robe and does not answer.

The accusers

Men behind him talk and lift their hands.

1509

A tablet on the floor with the date and the monogram.

Albrecht Dürer, German, 1471–1528. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Gift of Junius Spencer Morgan, 1919; acc. 19.73.186) · Woodcut · Public Domain — The Met Open Access (CC0). The Met Collection API record: "isPublicDomain": true; The Met marks such works on its website "with the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) icon".

The verses

Luke 23:6–11When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. And learning that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle. Herod questioned Jesus at great length, but He gave no answer. Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. And even Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked Him. Dressing Him in a fine robe, they sent Him back to Pilate.