The use of ivory as an artist's material goes back a very long time indeed, but its European heyday came during the Baroque in the 17th century, with its special preference for expensive and materials like the tusks of the elephant.
This group was carved by the ivory carver and sculptor David Heschler of Ulm, in Germany, who lived from 1611 to 1667. The group is not signed, but the mark under the cross, where the figures are standing, is of silver and shows the stamp of the city of Ulm.
The Nationalmuseum group was originally purchased by Queen Christina, later becoming part of the collection of the Queen Dowager Hedvig Eleonora. In 1763 it was presented to Lovö church by Queen Lovisa Ulrika, mother of Gustav III. Later the church sold it and Nationalmuseum acquired it in 1895.The dramatic movement of this group corresponds to Rubens' painting of the Descent From The Cross, in Antwerp Cathedral, from which some of our figures seem to be directly copied. Probably another prototype is an ivory group in Florence, based on a drawing by Michelangelo. This, then, is not an independent work of art but an example of Baroque fashion.