Jesus' Crucifixion In Art

The symbol of Christ on the cross has infiltrated culture in innumerable ways, and depictions have become ubiquitous. There is no other subject matter that better reflects the historical progression of artistic expression. This is fitting, as there is no other event that has had comparable effect on all aspects of human history.

"The Lamentation over the Dead Christ"
Artist: Rembrandt
1635
Painting

Netherlandish artist Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669) painted The Lamentation over the Dead Christ in 1635. Contrasting to typical scenes depicting the moment of crucifixion, in art history, a 'lamentation' scene shows Christ's body being brought down from the cross, and the moment his followers mourn over his body.

According to The National Gallery, this monochrome oil sketch, known as a 'grisaille', was probably made for an etching which was not executed.

"Pietà"
Artist: José Ribera
1637
Painting

The painting is in oils on canvas and its dimensions are 157 x 210 cm. It is owned by the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Ribera painted two other known canvases of the same subject. One is in the San Martino Museum and the other is in the National Gallery, London.

The work is part of a transition period in which the artist, without leaving the shadows of tenebrism, began to experiment with brighter coloring inspired by the work of artists such as Rubens and van Dyck.

The body of Christ is framed horizontally in the foreground of the composition. On the right, John the Apostle supports the subject's back while the grieving Mary Magdalene kisses Christ's feet. In the center is Mary with a face ravaged by pain looking to the sky and placing her hands together in prayer. At the upper right, the face of Joseph of Arimathea emerges from the darkness, veiled by the chiaroscuro technique.

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