Ecce Homo

German 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

This is a rectangular relief sculpture featuring a group of interacting people, most appearing engaged in discussion or discourse. There are nine individuals dressed in robes, cloaks, and hats. Six of them are in a line in the background of the sculpture, some with their mouths open and hands raised, facing us. On the right, a man stands on a wide round plinth. He is nude except for a cloth tied around his waist and a cape flowing over his shoulders. His hands appear bound, and he holds what looks like a long feather or stalk of wheat. He has a beard and long hair, and a circlet that looks like a large chain around his head. On the left, in front of the line of observers, two robed figures face the bound man with their arms stretched towards him. The sculpture is a bright gold color, with some slight chipping around the edges.