Christ is Sentenced by Pilate, from The Passion of Christ, plate 16 1664

Grégoire Huret made this print, ‘Christ is Sentenced by Pilate,’ in France in the 17th century. It’s part of a series called ‘The Passion of Christ.’ The scene depicts Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, condemning Jesus to death. But Huret wasn't just illustrating a biblical story; he was commenting on justice, power, and authority in his own time. The grand architecture and the theatrical gestures of the figures reflect the Baroque style popular during the reign of Louis XIV. The print suggests a world of hierarchies, with Pilate enthroned and Christ subjugated. To understand this image fully, we need to consider the social and political context of 17th-century France. The Catholic Church was a powerful institution, and religious imagery was used to reinforce its authority. Looking at similar prints and religious texts from the period can give us insight into the message Huret was trying to convey about the social structures of his time.