Representing Christ descending into Limbo, the first circle of Hell in Dante’s Inferno, this painting is a copy after one of four works by Hieronymous Bosch depicting scenes of Christ visiting Hell. Also known as the “Harrowing of Hell,” the story of Christ descending into Hell to redeem sinners between his burial and resurrection is featured in the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus. Here, Christ appears illuminated within the distinctive shape of a “mandorla,” a type of pointed oval used in medieval and Byzantine Christian iconography.

Bosch’s original paintings of these scenes are described in written sources from the 17th century, but their locations remain unknown today. However, multiple copies of these works have been identified, including a version of this painting with an identical composition which can be found at the National Gallery of Ireland. The number of extant copies demonstrates the popularity of Bosch’s work throughout the 16th century, where many artists attempted to replicate his fantastical, grotesque imagery and intricately detailed painting style.