About this artwork

The final panel in the series is one of the most badly worn. Pontius Pilate is shown washing his hands in a gesture symbolising his refusal to be implicated in Christ's Crucifixion. Christ is then shown on the Road to Calvary, struggling under the weight of the cross he has to carry. Below, the disciple Thomas kneels before the risen Christ removing his doubts by touching Christ's wounds. The concluding scene is the Ascension, where the upward gaze of the disciples and the Virgin Mary draws attention to the lower edge of Christ's robe as he ascends into heaven.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
  • title:
    Twenty Scenes from the Life of Christ [scenes 9 and 10 above; scenes 19 and 20 below]
  • date created:
    15th century
  • materials:
    Oil on panel
  • measurements:
    126.00 x 106.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Presented by the National Museums of Scotland 1936
  • accession number:
    NG 2310 E
  • gallery:
  • depicted:
  • subject:
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