Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528) - circle of

Oil on oak panel. Albrecht Dürer inspired many artists, primarily with his engravings and his Small Passion (set of 37 woodcuts). These were widely used as models for students and other painters in southern Germany and Italy. This particular scene, depicting Christ in Limbo, was adapted largely from the Small Passion of 1509. Artists and their followers, such as Hans Baldung Grien, Hans Leu the Younger, and many others, liked to use these as templates and developed them independently into their own paintings. Limbo, or the edge of Hell, is the place where the souls of people who died before the resurrection of Jesus Christ come. It is also a permanent state of unbaptised children - though they have not committed any sins personally, they also have not been absolved of the original human sin. These souls do not deserve to go to Hell, but they also cannot enter Heaven, and their fate is known only to God.