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 Descent from the Cross"
Artist: Charles Le Brun
1680
Painting

Housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, this Baroque-style painting by prolific French artist Charles Le Brun (1619–1690) shows the moment after Christ's death when he is being taken down from the cross.

"The Lamentation at the Foot of the Cross"
Artist: Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo
1780
Painting

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo's (1727–1804) The Lamentation at the Foot of the Cross is an eighteenth-century depiction of Christ's death, though it bears strong similarities to Rembrandt's Lamentation. Tiepolo may well have seen Rembrandt's version, which at the time was in possession of the British Consul, Joseph Smith (1682–1770) who lived in Venice.

In Tiepolo's version, Mary Magdalene is shown with blonde rather than red hair. In 1760, Tiepolo created a preparatory sketch for the composition with charcoal and ink.

- page 26 of 32 -