Explore the History of this artwork.
According to Caravaggio's biographer Giovanni Bellori a Crowning with Thorns was made for Caravaggio's patron Vincenzo Giustiniani, and this painting can be traced convincingly to the Giustiniani collection. An attribution to Giustiniani would place it in the period before 1606, when Caravaggio fled Rome, but Peter Robb dates it to 1607, when the artist was in Naples.The painting depicts a crown of thorns being forced onto the head of Jesus before his crucifixion, to mock his claim to authority.  The twisted body of Christ was influenced by the Belvedere Torso.  The painting was designed as a supraporte, to be hung over a doorway.
claim to authority crucifixion supraporte Giovanni Bellori Belvedere Torso Caravaggio Vincenzo Giustiniani crown of thorns Peter Robb