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Christ and the Adulteress

ca. 1545–50
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 537
This small picture illustrates the biblical passage in which a woman accused of adultery—an offense punishable by death in Mosaic law—is brought before Christ. He responds to her accusers with the words written across the top of the painting: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). Among the many variants of the subject that were made in Cranach’s workshop, this panel is unusual because it most likely formed a pair with Christ Blessing the Children, displayed to the left.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Christ and the Adulteress
  • Artist: Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop (German, Wittenberg 1515–1586 Wittenberg)
  • Date: ca. 1545–50
  • Medium: Oil on beech
  • Dimensions: 6 1/4 x 8 1/2 in. (15.9 x 21.6 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982
  • Object Number: 1982.60.35
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

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Christ Blessing the Children, Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop German, Oil on beech
Christ Blessing the Children
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop
ca. 1545–50
Venus and Cupid, Lucas Cranach the Elder German, Oil on wood
Venus and Cupid
Lucas Cranach the Elder
ca. 1525–27
The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara, Lucas Cranach the Elder German, Oil on linden
The Martyrdom of Saint Barbara
Lucas Cranach the Elder
ca. 1510
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, Albrecht Dürer German, Oil on linden
Virgin and Child with Saint Anne
Albrecht Dürer
probably 1519
Salvator Mundi, Albrecht Dürer German, Oil on linden
Salvator Mundi
Albrecht Dürer
ca. 1505

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