Christ in Limbo

Christ in Limbo
Christ in LimboChrist in LimboChrist in Limbo
Image Rights & Reproductions Requirements
Artist
nationality
Netherlandish
birth-death
1440-1516
Creation date
Collection
European
Materials
oil on wood
Dimensions
22 7/8 x 28 3/8 in.
Currently On View
Location
Northern Renaissance gallery
Credit line
Martha Delzell Memorial Fund
Accession number
63.10
Provenance

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Provenance Research is on-going at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and information will be added to this record as research is completed. Please contact Annette Schlagenhauff, Assoc. Curator of Research, at aschlagenhauff@imamuseum.org with any questions.
Gallery Label

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The story of Christ's descent into Limbo to rescue the souls of the righteous who lived before his time enjoyed a special place in the European popular imagination. This vision of Hell, its eternal darkness broken by Christ's dazzling entry, is exceptionally vivid.  The composition may derive from a lost work by Hieronymus Bosch. 

When he came to the edge of darkness like some splendid, terrible raider, the impious infernal legions, terrified as they gazed on him, began to ask: ‘Whence is he, so strong, so terrible, so splendid, so noble? . . . Who then is this, who comes to our gates so boldly, and not only has no fear of our torments but also frees others from our chains?
-Jacobus de Voragine, The Golden Legend, about 1260
Reproduction of these images, including downloading, is prohibited without written authorization from VAGA.

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