Art, Symbol & Imagination
The Flagellation of Christ
A nearly unclothed man sits bound beside a column while several figures lean towards him in a dark chamber and others stand further back. Doré uses the surrounding architecture to enclose the scene, with the exposed body placed low against the heavy stone. The composition makes the imbalance between the restrained figure and the active company clear. The printed caption identifies the flagellation. The image depicts the violence of the biblical passion narrative; its visual emphasis falls upon bodily vulnerability and confinement rather than upon a triumphant or ceremonial presentation of power.
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Citation
Gustave Doré (design). "The Flagellation of Christ" [editorial title]. In The Bible Gallery, Gustave Dore; Talbot W. Chambers. Undated Cassell & Company edition; one hundred illustrations with supplied descriptive letterpress, undated edition, Cassell & Company, Limited. Source scan leaf 361. Lumitheca. /gallery/image/bible-dore-360
Source details
Editorial title and description. Source details from the Library catalogue.
Complete plate reviewed against the scan; printed caption supplies subject. Crop excludes surrounding paper and separate caption without changing scan tone. Letterpress theology is not adopted as historical proof.
Sources
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The Bible GalleryGustave Dore; Talbot W. ChambersUndated editionMore from this book
All 98 illustrations
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Cite this illustration
Gustave Doré (design). The Flagellation of Christ. The Bible Gallery. Scan leaf 361. Lumitheca. https://lumitheca.com/gallery/image/bible-dore-360