The Flagellation of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1880) Poster

"The Flagellation of Christ is one of Bouguereau’s greatest religious masterpieces. Christ, tied to a column, limply hangs; with his feet dragging on the ground and head hung back he submits to his fate. Two men stand in mid swing with their whipping ropes flying through the air. A third man kneeling to the lower right is fastening birch branches for the next part of the beating. Yet a forth man can be seen standing behind the attacker to the right also with birch branches in the ready. The viewer can feel the pain of Christ's torment. Christ is surrounded by a group of curious spectators. To the left a young boy shelters his eyes from the horrid sight by turning his back and pressing himself against his mother. To the right, just above Christ’s head, a baby looks down at him sympathetically while hoisted up on his father’s shoulders. This life size masterpiece is every bit as great any religious works done by Raphael, Leonardo, or Caravaggio. The harmonious interplay of drawing, paint handling, composition, perspective with this powerful emotional thrust are 2nd to none."