The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 15, 2026

A vertically oriented ink and tempera drawing on tan vellum depicts two panels. On our left, Christ, a man with a light skin tone in a red robe, sits as two men press a crown of thorns onto his head. On our right, Christ carries a large wooden cross while facing a woman in a green robe. Both scenes are framed by arches and figures with scrolls, featuring figures in muted red, blue, and green.

Single Leaf from a "Biblia Pauperum": Christ Crowned with Thorns (recto) Christ Carrying the Cross (verso)

c. 1410

Germany, Bavaria

ink and tempera on vellum
Sheet: 19.8 x 14.2 cm (7 13/16 x 5 9/16 in.)
Gift in honor of William M. Milliken from members of his staff, 1919-1958 1958.255
Location: Not on view

Description

Also known as the "Poor Men's Bible," the Biblia Pauperum was a simple picture book used to explain biblical prophecies and symbolism. These volumes served as an aid for preachers to demonstrate the unity of the Bible. The iconography of these popular books juxtaposed two Old Testament scenes with one from the life of Christ. In this example, the image of Christ crowned with thorns on one side and Christ carrying the cross between Abraham and Isaac on the way to sacrifice (on the left) and Elijah with the widow of Zarephath (right), on the other side. The Biblia Pauperum appeared first in manuscript form in the 1200s, became a popular picture book with miniatures in the 1300s, and after 1450 it emerged as a print book with woodcuts.
  • Staedelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt
    Adolf Trier (?), Frankfurt
    Victor Goldschmidt, Heidelberg
    E. Eisemann, London
    Staedelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt; Adolf Trier (?), Frankurt; Victor Goldschmidt, Heidelberg; E. Eisemann, London
  • “Gothic Art 1360-1440.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 50, no. 7 (September 1963): 174–215. Reproduced: p. 195; Mentioned: p. 207, no. 50 www.jstor.org
  • Visions of the Divine: Textiles and Manuscripts from Medieval Germany (Manuscript and Textile Rotation) - Gallery 115. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 14, 2016-December 4, 2017).
    Scriptorium: The Illuminated Book in Medieval Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 5, 1991-February 2, 1992).
    Gothic Art 1360-1440. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 6-September 15, 1963).
    Water Color. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (June 6-August 27, 1962).
    Department of Prints and Drawings Opening Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (March 3, 1958-October 11, 1959).
  • {{cite web|title=Single Leaf from a "Biblia Pauperum": Christ Crowned with Thorns (recto) Christ Carrying the Cross (verso)|url=false|author=|year=c. 1410|access-date=15 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1958.255