Harrowing of Hell

Artist Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471 - 1528)

Titles

Plate 14 from ‘The Engraved Passion’
Christ in Limbo

Date1512

MediumEngraving

DimensionsOverall (with trimmed margins): 4 1/2 x 2 7/8 in. (11.4 x 7.3 cm)

CultureGerman

PortfolioThe Engraved Passion (The Passion of Christ)

Catalogue raisonnéM.16 iii/v; K.59; B.16, 39; D.63

Object numberPC2001.02.15

ClassificationsPrint Collection

DescriptionChrist stand at the center of the image under a stone archway having broken the gates of Hell. A remnant of the wooden doorway lies askew in the bottom left corner. Jesus leans forward, trying to rescue a soul from limbo, possibly John the Baptist, while Adam and Eve stand naked in the background. The face of the Devil peeks out from the bottom from behind the broken gate with ferocious teeth and a serpent tongue. On top of the archway, Cerberus, depicted as dragon-like animal, crouches gripping a weapon with a long hook at its end.

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