This painting illustrates a scene from the Gospel of Saint John (John 19:4–5) in which, following the episodes of Jesus` flagellation, the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate (here in yellow robe) presents him to the screaming people of Jerusalem with the words, “Behold the man! (‘Ecce homo’)”. Christ, who seems to be pushed towards the crowd by the Roman centurion, is crowned with thorns and stripped of his garments so that he would appear as a figure of ridicule. The people demand Christ’s execution, anticipated by the presence of the cross supported by the three figures on the left.
