'', The Flagellation first appears in Western art in the 9th century. It is almost never found in
Byzantine art, and remains very rare in
Eastern Orthodox art of any date. Initially found in
illuminated manuscripts and small ivories, there are surviving monumental wall-paintings of the subject from around 1000 in Italy. From the start, there are most often three figures, Christ and two servants of
Pontius Pilate who flog him. In early depictions, Christ may be naked, or wearing a long robe, facing out or seen from behind; from the 12th century it is standard for Christ to wear a loincloth (
perizoma) and face out towards the viewer. Christ's face is normally visible, giving artists the "technical problem of showing him receiving the strokes on his back – the usual place – while at the same time leaving his face visible". Often, he appears to be receiving strokes on the front of his body.
Philippines "Jesús Desmayado"
Pontius Pilate is sometimes shown watching the scene, and his wife's servant may approach him with
her message, and in the later Middle Ages, probably under the influence of
Passion plays, the number of men beating Christ may be three or four, increasingly caricatured in the North as grotesque figures in the dress of contemporary mercenaries. Sometimes another figure, who may be
Herod, is present. The Flagellation was at the hands of those working for Pontius Pilate, but the floggers may sometimes wear
Jewish hats. Following the
Maestà of
Duccio, the scene may take place in public, before an audience of the Jewish people. The
Franciscans, who promoted self-flagellation as a means of identification with the suffering of Christ, were probably responsible for a number of large Italian processional crosses in which the Flagellation occupies the back of the cross, with a Crucifixion on the front. These were presumably sometimes followed in processions by flagellants, who could see Christ suffering in front of them.
Notable examples Single works: •
Flagellation of Christ (Piero della Francesca), 1455–1460 •
Christ at the Column (Antonello da Messina), c. 1475 •
The Flagellation of Christ (Caravaggio), 1607 •
Christ at the Column (Caravaggio), 1607 In cycles: •
Maestà (Duccio) •
Scrovegni Chapel by
Giotto ==In film and music==