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The drawing features biblical and symbolic imagery including a crucifixion scene, various human figures, a lion attacking a figure, skeletal forms, and a stylized landscape with barren trees and swirling patterns. Latin phrases in banners add to the medieval, allegorical character of the scene.
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The drawing features biblical and symbolic imagery including a crucifixion scene, various human figures, a lion attacking a figure, skeletal forms, and a stylized landscape with barren trees and swirling patterns. Latin phrases in banners add to the medieval, allegorical character of the scene.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

"Help Him Who Takes up His Burden, Not Him Who Lays It down" [fol. 31 recto]

French early 16th Century

Date
c. 1512/1515
Medium
pen and brown ink on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 16.3 x 10.9 cm (6 7/16 x 4 5/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2006.11.53
Credit line
Woodner Collection, Gift of Andrea Woodner
Time span
1501 to 1550
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Portfolio and series

Series
Speculum principis (Mirror for Princes)

Subjects and terms

  • French
  • Crucifixion
  • Lion
  • Christ
  • Figures
  • Writing
Provenance

(Sale, London, Sotheby's, 13 July 1937, lot 64); (sale, London, Sotheby's, 15-17 November 1937, lot 546); (sale, London, Maggs Bros., Ltd., catalogue 709, 1941, no. 30); (purchased by William H. Schab Gallery via Paul Graupe); purchased by Ian Woodner, New York, by 1973; by inheritance to his daughters, Andrea and Dian Woodner, New York, 1990.

Inscription

center right in pen and brown ink: Vir depones onus. / & ociolus.; lower left in pen and brown ink: Vir follens onus.

Watermarks

Briquet 13542 (cut off)

NGA object ID 86037. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.