Title Page for a Series on the Passion of Christ - Crispijn van de Passe (I)

A detailed 17th-century Dutch engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (I), featuring symbolic imagery of the Passion of Christ within an oval frame.

This engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (I) serves as the title page for a series depicting the Passion of Christ. Van de Passe was a prolific Dutch engraver and draughtsman, known for his technical precision and his role in disseminating religious and mythological imagery across Europe during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The composition is contained within an oval frame, a common format for title pages of the period, which allows for a dense arrangement of symbolic elements.

At the centre, an inscription from 1 Corinthians 5:7 is presented in Latin, providing the theological framework for the series. Flanking this text are two angels, each holding instruments associated with the Passion. The angel on the left supports the cross, while the angel on the right holds a column, referencing the flagellation. Above the central text, a cartouche features the Agnus Dei, or Lamb of God, carrying a cross-staff, which reinforces the sacrificial theme of the series. Below the central text, various other symbols of the Passion are arranged, including a lantern and a sword, which relate to the arrest of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The engraving demonstrates the characteristic style of Northern Mannerism, with its emphasis on clear, controlled line work and a balanced, symmetrical arrangement of symbolic figures. Van de Passe employs a variety of hatching techniques to create depth and texture, particularly in the drapery of the angels and the shading of the cartouche. The work is a fine example of the high level of craftsmanship found in Dutch printmaking during this era, where the integration of text and image was essential for the communication of religious narratives to a literate and visually engaged audience. The print remains a clear record of the iconographic conventions used to represent the Passion in the early modern period.