Christ Driving the Merchants from the Temple, from The Passion of Christ, plate 3 1664

This etching, "Christ Driving the Merchants from the Temple" by Grégoire Huret, was made in 1664. Part of a larger series called "The Passion of Christ," this dramatic scene depicts Christ’s righteous anger as he expels the money-changers and livestock from the Temple. The central figure of Christ, raised in a powerful pose with a whip in hand, dominates the scene. His forceful presence and the scattered, fleeing figures around him create a sense of immediate chaos. Huret’s use of detailed lines and chiaroscuro contribute to the etching’s expressive realism and its focus on conveying a specific Biblical narrative. The work, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a striking example of Baroque-era etching and provides viewers with a vivid interpretation of this significant New Testament event.