The Crucifixion

William Bouguereau (1825-1905), although well known for his paintings of peasant girls and mythological scenes, has also become one of the most beloved religious painters of all times. As a devout catholic, Bouguereau, as so many other religious painters, viewed his work as a form of worship both of God and of his most beloved creation, mankind. Bouguereau's love of Christ can be clearly seen in his religious paintings such as this one, for which he took no short cuts and spared no time and dedication in creating.

This work depicts the crucifixion of Jesus that occurred in 1st-century Judaea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels  which state Jesus was arrested and tried by the Sanhedrin, and then sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally crucified by the Romans The Gospel of John portrays his death as a sacrifice for sin.