The Crucifixion
1430
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1430
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This small painting shows a man nailed to a cross, his body pale with blood dripping down. Two people stand nearby: one in blue, hands clasped, the other in green and gray, pointing upward. The background is dark red, and the frame looks like old parchment. The word "IHS" is written above the cross, which was a common symbol back then. The colors are flat, and the figures are stiff—this wasn’t meant to look real, but symbolic. Next, check out the Renaissance to see how art changed around this time.
