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Christ Fallen on the Cross

Alvise dal Friso

1576

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Christ Fallen on the Cross is a 1576 ink by Alvise dal Friso, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Alvise dal Friso
When & what style?: 1576 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a half-finished sketch of Christ collapsing under the weight of the cross. The lines are loose and hurried, with lots of scribbled marks and shading. The paper has a yellowish tint and looks worn, like it’s been handled a lot. The artist used quick, messy strokes to show movement and weight, almost like they were rushing to capture the moment. The signature in the corner reads *Alvise dal Friso*. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.