This picture illustrates the moment after Pilate has handed Jesus over to his men to be crucified. According to the gospels of Matthew (27:28–30), Mark (15:15–19) and John (19:5), the soldiers ridiculed their prisoner, stripping him of his clothes and dressing him in a richly coloured robe, placing a crown of thorns on his head and a reed in his hand, hailing him mockingly as the “King of the Jews” and spitting on him. Jesus is shown here, with the robe, crown and reed, attended by two hostile soldiers. The scowling man on the left presses against his shoulder, reaching forward to grasp the rope that binds his wrists. The soldier on the right, who appears to be black, glares at Jesus, his lips parted as he taunts his charge with insults and derision. Jesus turns toward this figure without responding, his head held upright but his slack features and downcast gaze betraying fatigue and resignation.