Invited in 1762 by King Carlos III of Spain to work at the royal palaces of Madrid and Aranjuez, the Venetian master also undertook a series of studies in oil with religious themes, in particular two modelli with scenes from the Passion of Christ, of which this painting at the MNAA forms part.

Better known for his large-scale paintings, Tiepolo manages in this small-sized work to achieve a vibrant pictorial treatment and a monumental sense of space, interpreting the dramatic nature of the episode with an unaccustomed depth.